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AUTHOR: 


FORNERON,  HENRI, 
1834-1886 


TITLE : 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 
DUCHESS  OF... 


PLACE: 


LONDON 

DA  TE : 

1891 


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f^RESERVATIONf  DEPARTMENT 


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Restrictions  on  Use, 


Forneron,  Henri,  i^:U-~4HS6. 

LoH!-^'  ilr  K».'ruua!U%  iluchesN  of  Portsnioutl'i,  l(Mr^-IT:i4: 
_MK'iiTv  ill  fht'  ro!ii1  of  Charles  n.  Compiled  from  state  pafKH'-s 
nrt'^'rviM.!  m  tiu'  archives  of  the  French  foiTigii  oflice,  by 
11.  Fornenin.  With  portraits,  facsiuiih^  letter,  etc.^  and  a  pref^^ 
ju-e  by  Mi's.  <«.  M.  Crawford.     M\  ed.     I^uidon,  S.  Sonneri^ 

xxxt.  34<l  p.  iiHi.  i'a«'?«i!ii.     «l  inirt  due!,  frofsfj     L'2j"*. 

TniaslattHl  froiu  ttu*  Frer!cti. 

PtihilHhed  in  1HJ*7  under  title:  The  arnvt  of  Churle^  ii.,  ltm^4734 

h,   pHrrMirsuyth,   I^»aN*>  Ueu*V  «1«'  IVfiiiiiem^  ile  KtVoualii',  durlsrtw  of, 
ItVm IT:U.     2.    <'lmr!i^    n,    kliii;    uf    Urent    Brilulii.    irw4<>-iev^%.     S.    Ot. 

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DATE      FILMED:_:_..y_  -_  INITIALS      y,     ,_B^ 

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MflNUFflCTURED   TO   flllM   STflNOnRDS 
BY   PPPLIED   IMAGE-     INC. 


LOUISE    DE    KEROUALLE, 

§ut^tss  of  Portsmouth. 


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i.onisH 


f  '  ■* 


i\hi,\(jl  aiAa:. 


gurbess  of  po  i  m  u'fr, 


SOCIETY  IN  THE  COURT  OF  CHARLES  II. 


COMPILED  FROM  STATE  PAPERS  PRESERVED  IN 

THE  ARCHIVES  OF  THE  FRENCH  FOREIGN 

OFFICE  BY  H  FORNERON 


rai'ti)  portraits,  jFacsfmiU  ILcttcr,  etc.,  anti  a 


PREFACE   BY   MRS.  G.   M.   CRAWFORD. 


THIRD 


EDITION. 


LONDON : 

SWAN  SONNENSCHEIN,  LOWREY  &  CO., 

PATERNOSTER  SQUARE. 

1888. 


Butler  6^  Tanner, 

The  Schvood  Printing  Works, 

Frome,  and  London. 


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1  I'  A   II  UX. 


'J"n-  tr\i!i*^lntioii  r^f  i:i^-    trur  >i'. t)   uI    the  origin 
ul    pciibiuii   ui    liic   uucai     f.iiiiUy   oi    iviCiinKtiiii. 

drJicated    to    the    laUlrS    Ui     ill'.* 


IS   rcspcLii uiiy 


h(-ai;t\' 


Priiiir--,-    l.^-Miic.  who  will  see  in  it  lia 
of    tiu-ir    tia'^"^!-\'    of    CriAvn    anh    Constitution. 
^v]len  coi^^i-t'-ntly  ap|Hi(al      It  is  aUo  uanh,-ai<:il 
to    Mr.    lloiiiw     Lahouchnrc,    wia.)    ha:.    ^aKuvii 
such    hue   trust    in    tajnmion   sausc.    ni    hi^    war 
ac^ainst   tinie-hunuured  abuses  —  arrogant   ^^iants 
that    ()u*'ht    to   be    slain,    and    the    t\  rcunu-    of 
folHes    which    put   on    the  mask    of    "ancestral 
wisdom."      The   Translator    owes    the   id.ea    of 
translatino'  tliis    truthful    (no   ijun   meruit)    little 
book,   to   a    ([uestion    vainl\-    pu^t    by    Mr.    La- 
bouchere     in    the     Hou-e     of    Commons,    and 


i:i 


1()421 1) 


N 


IV 


DEDICATIOy. 


Iiopes  that  a  perusal  of  Louise  de  Keroualle's 
progress  at  Whitehall  may  embolden  him  to 
again  ask  why  the  Duke  of  Richmond  is  a 
great  pensioner  of  England. 


I 


\ 


PRE!" ■CE  BY  Mrs.  G.  "  CiaV^'^'JD. 


—  «S^ 


On  the  stormy  3rd  of  September,  1658,  the 
soul  of  that  master- man  Cromwell,  which  had 
so  often  undergone  gloomy  eclipses,  lay  in 
deep  darkness.  The  throes  of  death  were  on 
the  Protector,  and  black  presentiments  took 
hold  of  his  mind.  One  of  the  causes  of  his 
anguish  was  leavinor  behind  him  an  unfin- 
ished  work.  This,  to  a  man  of  his  genius  and 
disposition,  was  like  leaving  in  hard  times  an 
infant  child  to  buffet  alone  with  the  troubles 
of  life.  Limp  and  c^ritless,  Richard  Cromwell 
was  no  meet  guardian  for  such  a  ward  as  the 
young  Commonwealth  of  England  ;  and  which 
of  the  Major-Generals  could  better  assume  the 
office  ?  In  the  broken  phrases  the  Protector 
uttered,  he  showed  a  foreboding  of  the  deca- 
dence into  which  his  nation  was  to  fall,  and  of 
the  moral  crisis  through  which,  like  a  drunken 
Bacchante,  she  w^as  to   reel  and  stagger  with 


VI 


PREFACE  BY  MRS.    G.  M.   CRAIVFORD. 


a  merry  monarch  at  her  head,  and  a  crew  of 
greedy  and  sensual  nobles — arrant  knaves  and 
rascals  for  the  most  part— at  his  heels. 

Cromwell,  it  being  no  use  to  take  thought 
for  the  morrow  and  the  days  after,  did  what  it 
was  best  under  the  circumstances  to  do.  He 
ended  by  leaving  the  whole  matter  for  his  dis- 
quietude to  God.  Oppressed  with  the  feeling 
that  he  was  a  ''  miserable  worm  "  and  *'  a  poor, 
foolish  creature,"  he  took  his  stand  on  the 
Covenant  of  Grace,  and  in  his  quaint  Puritan 
speech,  supplicated  on  behalf  of  the  people 
he  had  led,  for  higher  guidance.  He  was  an 
affectionate  kinsman,  and  his  heart  habitually 
went  out  to  his  children.  But  on  that  stormy 
bcpLember  day,  which  brought  back  memories 
of  his  greatest  victories,  and  placed  him  face 
to  face  with  death,  he  was  so  absorbed  in 
patriotic  anxiousness  that,  said  one  who 
V  *  :hed  beside  him,  ''  He  forgot  to  entreat 
ujd  for  his  own  family." 

*'  However,  Lord,"  cried  the  dying  hero, 
"  Thou  do  dispose  of  me,  do  good  for  Thy 
people.  Give  them  consistency  of  judgment, 
and  go  to  deliver  them  with  the  work  of  refor- 


mation. 


)) 


-3 


PREFACE  BY  MRS.    G.   M.    CRAWFORD.        vii 

**  With  the  work  of  reformation  ! "  Think 
of  that,  all  honest  Britons,  whether  Tory  or 
Primrose  Leaijuer,  for  this  book  is  not  intended 
to  point  a  moral  for  the  teaching  of  the  dis- 
honest, they  being  unteachable. 

If  God's  mill  grinds  fine,  the  grinding  pro- 
cess is — when  men  and  women  do  not  keep  up 
a  good  supply  of  grist — so  slow  as  to  be  im- 
perceptible, unless  we  look  to  the  work  it  does 
in  the  lono^  course  of  crenerations.  Cromwell's 
prayer  was  answered,  but  in  a  way  that  neither 
he  himself  nor  those  around  him  could  have 
looked  forward  to.  The  tale  this  volume  fur- 
nishes, of  a  French  harlot's  progress  at  White- 
hall, and  of  the  solid  anchorage  (;^  19,000  a 
year  for  ever!)  which  a  supine  nation  allowed 
to  her  offspring,  would  not  on  the  first  blush 
seem  to  justify  this  view.  What  would  any  old 
Ironside  have  thought  of  the  power  of  a  good 
man's  prayer,  were  Harvey,  at  the  time  of  the 
Rye- House  Plot  convictions  and  executions, 
to  have  told  him  what  he  overheard  Cromwell 
utter  when  the  shadow  of  death  was  upon  him  } 
It  would  not  have  occurred  to  him  that  the 
slow  grinding  mill  was  grinding  at  all.  Nor 
was  it,  in  a  general  way  in  England,  where  the 


I 


viii      PREFACE   BY  MRS.   G.   M.    CRAWFORD. 


PREFACE  BY  MRS.    G.   M.    CRAWFORD. 


IX 


supply  of  grist  was  too  miserably  stinted  for  the 
millstones  not  to  grind  each  other  out,  if  they 
did  long  and  strong  spells  of  work.  Here  and 
tiicrc,  mere  was  a  soul  in  touch  with  iicaven. 
I'  ;  persecution  was  the  lot  of  such.  One 
of  them,  tile  tmker  Bunyan,  escaped  from  a 
jail-bird's  noisome  sufferings  by  a  flight  •  into 
1  h  anil md.  i  ie  dreamed  day-dreams,  in  which 
the  vulgar  facts  of  life — the  heart-wringings 
I  .u  sprang  from  inability  to  protect  his  dear 
blind  little  child — the  slips,  the  falls,  and  the 
hindrances  to  moral  growth,  were  transmuted 
iiiiu  t..  :  circumstances  of  an  epic  poem.  We 
find  in  lii-  Dr-  -n  counterparts  of  Louise  de 
Keroualle  and  her  Court  of  \\  hitehall  rivals, 
ill  ^ladam  I  '  ble,  Mrs.  Lechery,  Mrs.  Bats- 
eyes,  and  Mrs  Filth.  Fashion  travelled  slowly 
in  those  tmies — but  it  travelled.  The  titled 
demi-reps  who  formed  the  corldge  of  the  Merry 
Monarch  had,  we  may  rest  assured,  their  copy- 
ists ill  I -"  low  Iving  social  strata  which  the 
Li:.   '  r  was  only  able  to  observe. 

Anionci;-  tiic   nhenoniena   of  nrrvnuq  diseases 


i'kiu  are  none  more  curious  than  susceptibility  to 
**sugg^^-t*nn  "  and  anesthesia  or  transfer  of  \-tal 
f  i\e  from  one  member  of  the  body  to  another. 


In  the  one  case  a  human  being  can  be  directed 
by  the  expressed — or,  what  is  more  noteworthy, 
the  verbally  unuttered — will  of  a  strong-minded 
person    in    full    health.       Hypnotic  patients  of 
lAjctor  Charcot  have  afforded  instances  of  this 
strange  susceptibility.      In  the  lives  of  nations 
we  often  see  collective  maladies  similar  to  those 
which     trouble     individuals.       England,    after 
Cromwell's  death,  was  like  a  machine  going  at 
full  speed,  when  it  loses  the  fly-wheel.     She  fell 
into  a  state  of  nervous  unbalancement  and  then 
moral  inertia.     There  were  times  when,  acting 
under — as  it  is  shown  by  the  author  of  "  Louise 
de  Keroualle," — the  ''suggestions"  of  a  French 
faction,  secretly  organized   in   London  to  work 
her    ruin,    she    was   as   one    demented.      This 
faction,  was   managed    dexterously  by  French 
ambassadors,  and  through  Louise  de  Keroualle 
it  held  the  Crown.     Indeed,  all  the  disposing 
and  directing  powers  of  the  nation  were  exer- 
cised according  to  orders  or  suggestions  from 
Versailles.    England  had  no  more  volit^  -  of  her 
own  than  an  hypnotic  patient  of  Doctor  Charcot. 
Her  condition  was  closely  watched  and  reported 
on  by, the  agents  of  Louis  to  that  iiiuiiarch,  and 
worked   upon   for  the    furtherance    of  a  great 


'  « 


PREFACE  BY  MRS.    G.   M.    CRAWFORD. 


political  scheme,  which  was  a  feasible  one.    This 
plan  of  policy  broke  down  chiefly  because  the 
legitimate  offspring  of  the  Grand  Monarch  had 
all  bad   constiLuiions,  and  died  early.      In  con- 
sequence, the  French  crown  passed,  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  eighteenth  century,  to  a  child  of  no 
natural  political  ability  and  of  vicious  instincts, 
who  was  placed  under  the  tutelage  of  a  volup- 
tuary.     England  had  under  Charles  become  so 
deranged  in  mind  as  to  justify  a  French  diplo- 
matist writing  to  his  King  that  if  a  thing  was 
irrational  and  absurd,  it  was  the  more  certain  for 
that  reason  to  succeed  amongf  the  English.     Yet 
there  was  no  lack  of  cleverness,  and  fine  talents 
cropped  up  in  literature  and  science.     But  these 
various  gifts  and  capacities  did  not  make  for  the 
general  weal.     The  aristocracy  were  profligate 
and   knavish,   and,   according  to   their  degree, 
their  leading  men  as  much   the  pensioners   of 
Louis    as    their    monarch.      In    their    oro-ies 
they   kept  their   eyes   well  fixed   on   the  main 
chances  of  their  class.     Their  wits  were  success- 
fully   employed    in    throwing   off   the    military 
burdens   with   which    their  broad  estates  were 
charged,  and  shifting  them  to  the  shoulders  of 
Ml- rcantile  lacklands.     So  far  as  the  middle  and 


PREFACE  BY  MRS.    G.   M.    CRAWFORD. 


XI 


lower  middle  class  went,  there  was  a  clear  case  #: 
of  anesthesia,  as  shown  in  the  transfer  of  re- 
forming power  and  self-governing  will  to  New 
England. 

When  Louise  de  Keroualle  was  above  the 
crowned  Queen  at  Whitehall,  that  New  Eng- 
land territory  was  the  sparsely  colonized  fringe 
of  the  wildest  and  biggest  wilderness  in  the 
world.  Its  colonists  were  *' the  people,"  ^to 
whom  by  early  associations  and  Puritan  breed- 
ing Cromwell  belonged  and  gave  his  last 
thoughts.  God's  mill  was  then  grinding  fast 
and  fine  among  them,  because  the  supply  of 
grist  was  plentiful.  But  New  England  was 
out  of  the  sight  and  mind  of  old  England, 
which  was  supine  and  inert,  when  she  was 
not  either  carousing,  attacked  with  nervous 
convulsions,  or  a  prey  to  wild  panics,  got  up  by 
aeents  of  the  Prince  of  Oranore  and  limbs  of 
the  French  faction.  These  scares  are  known 
to  us  as  the  Papist  and  the  Rye- House  Plots. 
Hitherto  their  causes  have  remained  in  semi- 
obscurity.  In  "  Louise  de  Keroualle  "  they  are 
brought  into  a  light,  full  and  clear  to  fierceness. 

It   has   been    a   subject   of   anxiety   to    the 
translator,  whether  he  should  tone  down  what 


xii        PREFACE  BY  MRS.    G.  M.    CRAWFORD. 


PREFACE  BY  MRS.   G,   M.    CRAWFORD.       xiii 


might  appear  to  many  well-meaning  persons 
the  too  crisp  scandals  of  the  Court  of  Vrhite- 
hal!  which  fill  so  large  a  place  in  the  letters 
01  1  rench  ambassadors  to  their  king  and  his 
secretary  for  foreign  affairs,  iiappily  he  has 
been  induced  not  to  Bowdlerize.  This  book  is 
for  the  information  of  men  and  women  who  like 
to  see  the  facts  of  history  divested  of  con- 
ventional forms,  and  allowed  to  speak  for  them- 
selves, in  their  own  way.  So  the  letter  and  the 
spirit  are  adhered  to  of  the  documents  to  which 
we  owe  this  new  vista  oa  the  wildly  dissipated 
court  of  Charles  II.  Nothing  is  watered;  nor 
would  morality  be  served  by  a  watering  process. 
There  are  great  lessons  to  be  deduced  from  the 
piquant  gossip  in  which  this  volume  abounds. 
They  would  miss  their  mark  were  the  trans- 
latnr  to  have  toned  them  down.  M.  Forneron's 
book  came  out  in  Paris  a  few  years  ago,  when 
the  Duke  oi  Richmond  was  in  the  enjoyment 
of  an  h-reditary  annuity  of  ^19,000  a  year. 
THp  in  t  edition  of  the  Financial  Reform 
A  ;inac  states  that  his  pension  has  been 
commuted  by  a  sum  of  nearly  half  a  million 
sterling.  h  is  to  be  supposed  that  this 
arrangement  was  hastened  forward  and  quietly 


N 


got  through  because  the  publication  of  "  Louise 
de  Keroualle"  was  expected  in  England,  and  a 
foretaste  of  it  given  in  the  House  of  Commons 
in  a  question  put  by  Mr.  Labouchere.  Nobody 
who  has  any  share  in  bringing  this  book  before 
the  English  public  harbours  any  sort  of  grudge 
against  the  ducal  family  of  Richmond.  At  the 
same  time,  it  is  hard  to  conceive  anything 
more  monstrous  than  the  commutation  of  the 
pension  originally  granted  to  Louise  de 
Keroualle.  Its  enormity  must  come  home  to 
all  who  read  in  this  volume  the  story  of  her 
aims  and  efforts.  We  have  to  go  back  three 
thousand  years,  to  the  Valley  of  Sorek,  to  find 
a  wanton  who  w^as  a  match  for  her  in  cold- 
blooded astuteness.  There  is  a  good  deal  to 
be  forgiven  to  a  Magdalen  who  loves  much, 
evon  though  she  has  loved  often.  But  the 
woman  who  plans  betrayal  while  bewitching 
with  her  caresses,  deserves  outlawry.  This  was 
what  Louise  de  Keroualle  did. 

However,  there  was  a  sound  spot  in  her. 
Though  gorged  with  English  money  (and 
indeed  Irish  money  too),  and  always  expectant 
of,  and  hungering  for  more,  her  allegiance  to 
her  own  king  was  never  shaken.     She  was  born. 


^ 


xiv       PREFACE  BY  MRS,    G.  M.   CRAWFORD. 

lived,  and  died  a  Frenchwoman.  Under  all 
circumstances,  and  in  every  case,  she  was  a 
leal  and  intelligent  agent  of  Louis  the  Four- 
teenth in  London  ;  and  she  won  every  wage 
he  paid  her,  by  consciously  trying  to  bring 
England  into  subjection  to  France.  She  all 
but  succeeded.  Unfortunately  for  her  and 
the  K  ng  of  France,  the  means  they  took  de- 
feated their  object.  Charles's  vices  being  over- 
stimulated  and  overdone,  he  died  before  his 
time,  and  then  a  new  chapter  of  history  was 
opened.  Had  he  lived  a  few  years  more,  the 
work  of  reformation  on  which  Cromwell  set  his 
heart,  and  which  after  his  time  went  on  so  well 
across  the  Atlantic,  must  have  been  nipped  in 
the  bud.  It  is  in  general  idle  to  speculate 
upon  '*  what  might  have  been."  But  it  is  easy 
to  say  what,  under  given  circumstances,  could 
not  have  been.  Thus,  if  Louise  de  Keroualle 
had  remained  effective  queen  at  Whitehall 
r  r  i  f*ew  years  more,  that  Greater  Britain, 
wherein  the  Irish  Celt  has  full  play  for  his 
tumultuous  activities  and  the  Anglo-Saxon  all 
the  personal  liberty  he  wants,  must  have  fallen 
into  the  limbo  of  the  could-not-have-beens. 
ii   was  a  part  of  the  French  scheme  to  ed^e 


\ 


PREFACE  BY  MRS.   G.   M.    CRAWFORD.        xv 


England  out  of  North  America.  Seeing  that 
France  held  Canada  and  the  Mississippi  Valley, 
was  herself  a  great  naval  power,  the  greatest 
existing  military  power,  and  had  her  hand  on 
iiolland,  the  design  was  essentially  practicable. 
Its  success  must  have  relegated  the  Boston 
Harbour  tea  fight  to  the  could-not-have-beens  ; 
and  we  know  that  out  of  that  event  arose,  not 
only  a  fresh  order  of  things  in  the  New  World, 
but  in  the  Old  World  too.  It  was  the  people 
with  whom  Cromwell  was  in  his  last  hour  in 
heart  and  thought,  who  settled  around  Boston 
Harbour.  The  changes  to  which  the  tea  fray 
led  in  Europe  brought  about  the  suppression — 
and  without  commutation  ! — of  the  ducal  fief  of 
Aubigny  in  France,  which  was  granted  to  Louise 
de  Keroualle  and  her  heirs,  for  her  secret  ser- 
vices in  England.'  But  the  perpetual  wages 
which  the  Merry  Monarch  granted  her  out  of 


y 


1  I  am  told,  but  have  as  yet  been  unable  to  obtain 
documentary  evidence,  that  the  late  Duke,  in  the  reign  of 
Charles  X.,  put  in,  as  disestablished  lord  of  Aubigny,  a  claim 
for  a  slice  of  the  ;^  10,000,000  sterling  indemnity  voted  to 
the  emigres  of  the  French  aristocracy  by  **  la  Chambre  in- 
trouvable." 


XVI       PREFACE  BY  MRS.   G.   M.   CRAWFORD 

his  lackland  subjects'  pockets,  for  the  means 
she  took  to  render  these  services  to  her  own 
king,  continue  to  gild  the  ducal  coronet  of 
Richmond. 

I  ..'  h  it  were  otherwise,  for  the  sake  of  the 
Headers  who  like  to  see,  in  novels  and  at  the 
close  of  the  play,  vice  well  whipped  and  vir- 
tue triumphant.  But  history  evolves  itself  in- 
dependently of  our  likings  or  dislikings ;  and 
mH  that  historians  should  do  is  to  record,  tn 
seek  for  missing  links,  to  connect  them,  when 
found,  with  the  rest  of  the  chain,  and  to  leave 
their  narrative  to  point  its  own  moral. 


\ 


/• 


C  n  V  ^  IT  N  T  - . 

CHAPTER   I. 

ENGLAND  AND  THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIV, 

Indebtedness  of  France  to  Louise  de  Keroualle. — 
French  ingratitude  for  services  rendered  by  her  at 
the  Court  of  Whitehall— Pedigree  of  Louise.— 
Her  early  life. — Adventures  at  the  French  court. 
— Libels   and   lampoons. — Ambitious   policy  of 
Louis  the  Fourteenth.— England  the   main  ob- 
stacle  to  its   accomplishment.— Charles  H.    his 
disposition    and    vices.— Henrietta    Maria,    her 
intrigues    and    secret    marriage.— Catherine    of 
Braganza,  her  ugliness  and  incapacity  to  become 
a  useful  tool  of  France.— Her  bridal  humiliations. 
—Her  displeasure  at  Lady  Castlemaine's  supre- 
macy at  Whitehall.— The  beautiful  Lady  Castle- 
maine.— Her  truculence  and  triumph  over   the 
Queen. — Presents  sent  her  by  the  King  of  France. 
—Inconstancy  of  Charles  II.— The  lovely  and 
vacuous  Miss  Stuart.— Nelly  Gwynn,   her  thea- 
trical career,  jests,   and  frolics.— Arhngton  and 
Buckingham,   their  foreign   intrigues.— Sir  Sam- 
uel Morland,  his   life  and  adventures.— French 
noblemen    at    Whitehall.— French  diplomatists, 
diplomatic  wires  and  wire  pullers. — Manoeuvres 
to   hold   Charles.— The    Italian    astrologer,    his 
erroneous  forecasts  of  the  Newmarket  races  and 

iiis  recall  to  France 

•        .        .        •        . 


PAGB 


XVll 


I 


IVlll 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    II. 

MADAME  hENRIETTE, 

Buckingham's  suspicions  of  Henriette,  Duchess  of 
Orleans  and  Princess  of  England. — Influence  of 
the  Duchess  with  Charles  II. — Her  intervention 
in  lie  French  intrigues  at  Whitehall  advised  by 
Colbert. — The  Countess  of  Shrewsbury's  relations 
with  Buckingham  and  complicity  in  Killegrew's 
murder. — Charles's  greed  for  French  gold. — He 
proposes  a  secret  league  to  Louis  XIV. — Its  un- 
English  purport. — Holland  to  be  sacrificed. — 
Hitch  on  the  French  side  about  Hamburg. — Hen- 
riette's  dexterity. — Her  visit  to  England  decided 
upon. — Choice  by  her  of  Louise  de  Keroualle  to 
attend  her  there. — Meeting  of  Charles  and  Hen- 
riette.— Betrayal  of  England  by  her  King. — Louis, 
at  Dunkirk,  watches  the  progress  of  negocia- 
tions  at  Dover. — Henriette  returns  to  France. — 
Her  sudden  death,  and  suspicion  that  she  was 
poisoned. — Louise  de  Keroualle  sent  to  London 
to  console  and  manageCharles. — His  susceptibility 
to  her  charms. — Lady  Castlemaine's  jealousy. — 
The  Royal  bastards. — Louise's  adroitness. — 
Public  suspicions  of  her  and  the  Cabal. — Her 
close  game  and  aft'ected  coyness. 

CHAPTER    III. 

ACCESSION  OF  LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 

Louise  pursues  her  close  game. — She  remains  coy. — 
Uneasiness  thereat  of  the  French  Embassy. — 
Fury  of  the  Ducl.ess  of  Cleveland. — The  King's 


PAGE 


47 


CONTENTS. 


fancy  for  Louise. — Her  soft  graces  and  refine- 
ment.— Lady  Arlington's  plot  to  break  down  her 
supposed  scruples.  —  Euston  Hall. — The  King 
goes  to  Euston  from  Newmarket. — Louise  fetched 
to  meet  him. — Mock  marriage  of  Charles  and  the 
French  beauty  at  Euston  Hall. — France,  through 
her  ambassador,  congratulates  the  pseudo  bride, 
and  turns  her  new  position  to  diplomatic  account 
— Charles  declares  war  on  Holland.  — Louis  con- 
quers Flanders. — Attempts  to  make  Charles 
declare  himself  a  Catholic. — The  Duke  of  York. 
— Intrigues  to  bring  him  to  propose  for  the 
Duchess  of  Guise       ...... 

CHAPTER   IV. 

THE  RIVALS. 

The  Dangers  which  beset  Louise. — The  Queen's 
bad  health. — The  French  favourite  aims  at  the 
Crown. — Catherine's  Doctors  and  their  prognos- 
tics.— A  Royal  divorce  mooted. — The  King's  new 
amours. — Their  cost  to  the  nation. — The  Duchess 
of  Cleveland's  four  sons. — The  three  rival  beauties. 
— English  taste  for  boisterous  fun. — The  Queen's 
jollifications. — Her  Majesty's  adventure  at  Saftron 
Walden  fair. — Actresses  under  Charles  II.  —  Mary 
Davies. — Louise  holding  ground  against  Court 
and  people. — Her  tact. — Refuses  to  urge  the 
Conversion  of  Charles. — Her  match-making 
scheme  for  the  Duke  of  York.  Flis  uxorious- 
ness. — He  stands  out  for  a  pretty  wife. — A 
princess  of  Wurtemburg  offered. — Louise  gets 
her  set  aside. — The  Duke  of  York  marries 
Mary    Beatrice    of    Este. — Louise    enters     the 


XIX 


PACE 


64 


x\ 


CONTENTS. 


U': 


peerage    as    Baroness    of    Peterfield,    Countess 
of    Fariiham,     Duchess    of     Pendennis,     and 
Duchess  of  Portsmouth.    She  aspires  to  a  French 
Duchy.— Obstacles  to  her  ambition.— Charle    1 1 
sohcits  for  her  the  Ducal  fief  of  Aubigny  which 
she   desires.-    1:.    Royal    Stuart   associations.— 
French  nobles  at  Whitehall.— Duras  created  Earl 
of  Feversham.— The  Frenchmen  of  Buckingham's 
set.— Saint  Evremond.— The  Marquis  de  Sessac. 
—His  gambling   gains.— Buckingham    a   secret 
service  agent  of  France.— His  plan  to  buy  M  l/s 
for  Louis.— De  Ruvigny's   mission,   his  honour- 
able life.— His  Protestantism  and  relationship  to 
the  Russells.— His  secret  mission  to  London.— 
Is  instructed  to  purchase  King  and  Parliament. 
—France   stretches   her   Frontiers. —Louis  feels 
England   slipping   from    him.— Alarm    given    to 
France    by    the   Comte    D'Estrades.— Tide    of 
public  hatred  turning  against  Roman  Catholicism 
and  France.— Charles  is  given  a  bribe  of  eight 
millions  of  francs.— Buckingham  curries  popular 
favour,  reforms  his  life  and  goes  to  church.— 
Peace  with  Holland  .         .      " 


PAGE 


79 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  DUCHESS  OF  PORTSMOUTH'S  FIRST  CHECK, 

Plain  Speech  the  rule  at  the  polished  Court  of  Ver- 
sailles.—Prudish  niceness  unknown  there.— The 
sins  of  Charles  and  Louise  find  them  out  — 
Ruvigny's  letters  about  Charles.-Louise  seeks 
a  cure  at  Tunbridge  Wells.-Derision  of  the 
Marchioness    of    Worcester.-The     Household 


CONTENTS. 


XXI 


\ 


guard  escorts  Louise  from  the  Wells  to  Windsor, 
— The  King's  doctor  treats  her. — Henriette  her 
sister  comes  to  England  and  marries  Lord  Pem- 
broke.— Louise  still  solicits  a  Frenrh  Duchy. — 
Nell  Gwynn  derides  her  for  her  oft  vaunted  high 
connections. — Versailles  finds  matter  for  amuse- 
ment in  her  progress  at  Whitehall. — Madame  de 
Sevigne's  jests. — Her  sketch  ui  a  en  Gwynn. — 
Queen  Catherine's  card  table. — Hierarchy  of  the 
King's  Seraglio, — Louise's  son  created  Duke  of 
Richmond. — Maternal  tricks  to  secure  him  pre- 
cedence over  the  King's  other  progeny,— Their 
success, — The  Dukes  of  Grafton  and  St.  Albans. — 
A  Scotch  Countess  named  governess  to  Louise's 
son. — Pensions  and  emoluments  granted  to  the 
Duchesses  of  the  Seraglio  and  to  their  heirs. — 
The  fair  favourites  fleece  the  exchequer,— The 
French  favourite's  passion  for  gaming.  — Her 
sumptuous  lodgings  a  cause  of  envy. — The  con- 
tempt in  which  the  English  held  her.— Advent 
of  the  Duchess  Mazarin     .... 


I'AGB 


107 


CHAPTER  VL 

THE  DUCHESS  MAZARIN, 

Close  of  a  great  era.- The  Congress  of  Nimeguen. 
— Danby  gained  for  Louis  by  Louise.— French 
subsidy  of  two  millions  of  francs  for  Charles. 
— Parliament  prorogued  for  fifteen  months.— 
Charles's  old  passion  for  the  Duchess  Mazarin 
revived.— Her  story,  domestic  misery,  fanatical 
husband,  imprisonments  in  convents,  flight  to 
Italy,  subsequent  adventures  and  Roman  style  of 


; 


XX  n 


CONTENTS. 


beauty.— Triumphant  reception  at  Whitehall. — 
She  is  welcomed  by  English  rivals  of  Louise. — 
Struggle  bcin,.  ,  the  three  Duchesses. — The 
Duchess  of  Cleveland  retires  to  France. — Louise's 
new  cares.— Her  jealousy  and  altered  looks. — 
Pecuniary  troubles.  —  The  Duchess  of  York's 
friendship  for  the  Duchess  Mazarin.— Monetary 
straits  of  the  latter. — De  Ruvigny  unable  to 
manage  Ciiarles  and  the  Seraglio. — He  is  super- 
seded by  Courtin 

CHAPTER  VIL 

COURTIN. 

Courtin's  career.— His  honourable  name. —His  rela- 
tions in  London  with  the   Duchess  Mazarin.— 
Asks  her  husband  to  increase  her  allowance,  and 
advises  Louis  XIV.  to  make  him  do  so.— Liaison 
of  the  Duchess  witli  the  Abbe  St.  Real.— The 
Duchess  of  Portsmouth   tries  the  Bath  waters, 
and    halts    at    Windsor    on   her   way   back   to 
London.— Her  dinner  to  the  Comte  and  Com- 
tesse  de  Ruvigny,  and  dejected  manner.— Lou- 
vois.— Laughter   at   her   lachrymosity.— Courtin 
hides  her  decline  in  Royal  favour  from  the  other 
ambassadors.— He  advises  her  to  conceal  mortifi- 
cation.—Passes   his    evenings   at    the    Duchess 
Mazarin's.— The  Countess  of  Sussex.— Beauteous 
and   well-bred    Mrs.    Middleton.-A   moonli-ht 
walk  m  St.  James's  Park.-A  fete  given  to  The 
Court   belles    at    the    French   Embassy.— Card 
parties    at    Madame   Mazarin's.  —  Her   library, 
bright  wit,    companions,  and   care   to   preserve 


PAGE 


123 


N 


I 


CONTENTS. 


appearances. — Courtin  on  Englishwomen's  feet, 
and  their  smart  shoes,  stockings,  arKJ  carters. — 
His  gossip  about  Charles  TT  and  hi^  i  'ourt. — 
Thfi-  romping  games  01  Lady  Sussex  a  •id  the 
Duchess  M  rni  — John  Churchill. — Louis  the 
Fourteenth  declines  to  give  hiiu  a  ivgiment. — 
ii^  aiLichment  to  Miss  Jennings,  and  refu-^al  to 
marry  an  ugly  heiress. — Is  discredited  m  I  ance 
for  havmg  plundered  the  Duchess  of  Cleveland. 
— Further  decline  of  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth's 
influence.— Suppers  at  Nell  Gwynn's. — Charles's 
nocturnal  visits  to  the  Duchess  Mazarin— His 
day  visits  to  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth. — Haste 
of  Louis  XIV.  to  work  whatever  power  remains 
to  Louise.— II:  forces  the  I 'n nee  of  Orange  to 
raise  the  siege  of  Maestricht. — Sullen  hatred  of 
the  English  people  to  France. — Charles's  auto- 
graph receipts  for  French  bribes. — The  opposi- 
tion in  the  Commons. — Courtin  told  to  ascertain 
what  members  are  purchasable.— Importuned 
for  bribes  by  Lord  Berkshire.— Knavery  of  that 
nobleman, — English  lords  and  commoners  will- 
ing to  pocket  French  money,  but  afraid  to  keep 
to  their  bargains  with  France.— 'J^'  Duke  and 
Duchess  of  Lauderdale, — The  canny  prudence 
of  the  Duchess,  and  her  fear  of  compromising 
her  husband. — Presents  of  French  wines  to  in- 
corruptible Englishmen.— Their  liking  for  cham- 
pagne.—A  dinner  at  the  Duchess  of  Ports- 
mouth's.—Courtin  patches  up  a  peace  between 
the  ladies  of  the  Seraglio, — Lady  Hervey  and 
Nell  Gvvynn  at  the  Duchess  of  Mazarin's.— Nell 
bids  for  the  post  of  agent  to  King  Louis,— She 


XXIU 


PAG  8 


I  % 


I 


V 


1    I 


E 


\ 


U/ 


x\iv 


CONTENTS, 


shows   her   petticoats    to   the    company.— Lady 
Hervey's   mental  gifts  and   vices.— Parallel    be- 
tween the  belles  of  Versailles  and  the  beauties  of 
Whitehall.— Th e  Duchess  of  Mazarin's  style  of 
living.— Chiffinch.— War  between  Parliament  and 
Palace.— Union  of  all  the  ladies  deemed  neces- 
sary by  the  French   party.— Outcry  against  the 
French  intrigues  at  Court.— Louis  takes  Valen- 
ciennes, St.  Omer,  and  Cambray.— French  bribes 
paid  to  Charles  in  1677.— Welsh  flannel  worn  by 
the  King.— The  Duchess  of  Portsmouth  regains 
her  looks   at  Bath.  —  Lord    Ibrickan.— Courtin 
retires  from  diplomacy.- Barrillon  succeeds  him 

CHAPTER  VIIL 
BARRILLON, 

Barrillon's  qualifications  for  his  mission  to  London.— 
His  professional  unscrupulousness.— His  friend- 
ship with  Madame  de  Sevigne.-He  enters  into 
close  relations   with  corrupt  English  politicians 
—Meets  with  a  check.— The  Prince  of  Orange 
visits  London.— He  wins  the  Princess  Mary.-- 
Their   marriage.— National  joy. -Dangerous  ill- 
ness  of    the    Duchess    of    Portsmouth.  —  Her 
struggles    with    new    rivals.  -  Disgrace    of    the 
Duchess    of    Cleveland.-The    King's    passion 
abates  for  the  Duchess  Mazarin.-Loufse  regains 
mfluence.-The   Marquise  de  Courcelles -Her 
set  on  Charles.  -  Her  adventures.  —  Romping 
games  at  the  Duchess  of  York's.-Cabal  there 
against  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth.— I'he  Duke 
of  York's  duplicity.-Louise  plays  into  Barrillon's 


i'AGS 


CONTENTS. 


XXV 


139 


\: 


4 
{.-, 
t 


is  i 
f  I 


X 


i  *. 


hand. — She  persuades  Charles  that  he  is  devoted 
to  him.  —  Her  courtiers.  —  Sunderland.  —  The 
Countess  of  Sunderland's  animosity  to  the  French 
jade. — Louise  as  an  Exchequer  horse-leech. — 
Her  traffic  in  Royal  pardons. — Her  profits  in 
the  sale  of  convicts  to  West  India  planters. — A 
London  mercer's  bill  for  finery  supplied  her. — 
Male  attire  the  fashion  for  ladies. — The  lump  sums 
and  annuities  paid  to  the  King's  concubines,  and 
to  purveyors  to  his  Seraglio. — Barrillon's  account 
books. — The  political  men  in  his  pay. — Austere 
Puritans  corrupted. — Sir  John  Baber,  Poole, 
Littleton. — Fifteen  thousand  guineas  for  Mon- 
tagu.—His  sudden  pretended  change  of  front. — 
Denounces  Danby  as  having,  when  talking 
loudest  against  France,  been  its  agent — Double 
games    of   Montagu,    Danby,    and  .  Barrillon.— 

Barrillon's  mission  to  keep  England  divided. 

Danby  deserts  France.— He  concludes  a  treaty 
with  Holland  and  makes  up  the  breach  between 
King  and  Commons.— Energetic  campaign  of 
Louis  in  Flanders.— Ghent,  Ypres,  and  Mons 
fall  into  his  hands. — Holland  crippled. Anti- 
Catholic  frenzy  of  England.— Shaftesbury  profits 
by  the  fury  of  the  nation,  to  ruin  Danby  and 
humiliate  Charles.— The  Popish  Plot.— Cole- 
man's   knavery    and   trial. — Oates'   perjuries. 

Terror  of  Charles  and  his  ladies. — The  Duchess 

of  Portsmouth  wants  to  retire  to  France. The 

Duke  of  York  leaves  England.— Strafford  tried 

and    executed.— Shaftesbury's  preponderance. 

He   discards  the  Prince  of  Orange  to   set  up 
Monmouth  as  heir  to  the  Crown. — The  King's 


rAOK 


i 


r 


t 


fe 


Si 
r  I 


^ 


XXVI 


CONTENTS. 


embarrassment. — He  sends  for  Barrillon,  ex- 
presses fear  of  a  republic,  and  conjures  Louis 
to  make  England  dependent  on  him. —Mon- 
mouth's fabulous  m.aternal  pedigree. — English 
taste  luf  iumantic  improbability. — Louis  stops 
the  subsidies  to  Charles. — No  serious  services,  no 
more  money. — Louis  advances  500,000  francs  to 
prevent  Parliament  meeting. — The  Duchess  of 
Portsmouth  pleada  at  the  French  Embassy  for 
Charles  to  be  kept  supplied. — His  secret  meetings 
with  Barrillon  revealed  by  Lady  Sunderland. — 
Louise's  dexterity. — She  courts  Monmouth,  and 
is  lampooned. — Charles  attacked  with  fever. — 
Political  effects  of  his  illness. — Monmouth  sent 
from  London. — France  secretly  stirs  up  a  quarrel 
between  Charles  and  the  Country  Party.— Mon- 
mouth comes  back. — His  intimacy  with  Nell 
Gwynn.— Nell  sets  up  to  head  the  Protestant 
party.— Parliament  demands  the  banishment  of 
Louise  de  Keroualle.— Her  trial  and  execution 
agitated  for.— Parliament  prorogued  . 

CHAPTER  IX. 

SUNDERLAND  AND  SHAFTESBURY. 

English  hatred  to  France  grows  hotter.— It  threatens 
the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth.— The  King  finds  a 
new  and  noble  mistress.— Politic  game  of  the 
Duchess.— She  tries  to  keep  friends  and  avoid 
exasperating  foes.— Allies  herself  with  Sunder- 
land.—They  play  Monmouth  against  the  Prince 
of  Orange  and  the  Duke  of  York.— Louise  de- 
clares for  the  Prince  of  Omnge.— The  seemin^ 


PAGE 


193 


If 


\% 


/ 


CONTENTS. 


XXVIl 


PAGE 


sincerity  of  this  declaration  ruffles  Barrillon. — 
He  ceases  to  deem  her  services  important. —  Her 
further  campaign  of  corruption. — Lady  Hervey's 
rapacity.  —  French  bribes  for  Xonconformist 
ministers. — Lords  and  members  ot  the  House  of 
Commons  proposed  for  bribery  by  Barrillon. — 
Barrillon's  political  indifference. — His  plan  of 
setting  all  English  parties  by  the  ears. — His . 
relations  with  Sidney. — His  relations  with  Presby- 
terians and  popular  preachers. — Nell  Gwynn's 
eldest  son  dies. — The  Duchess  of  Portsmouth 
rears  the  daughter  of  Mary  Davis.— The  Duchess 
suffers  the  King  to  show  attention  to  the  Queen. 
— Parliament  meets.—  Bill  to  exclude,  the  Duke 
of  York.  —  Barrillon's  secret  efforts  against  the 
Prince  of  Orange. — Montagu,  Herbert,  Sidney, 
Hampden,  Baber,  and  Lady  Hervey,  usefullest 
allies  of  Barrillon. — France  finds  it  cheaper  to 
bribe  the  Opposition  than  the  King. — Louise  de 
Keroualle  urges  Charles  to  prorogue  indefinitely. 
— Her  ignorance  of  Barrillon's  relations  with 
ixe  -^iL'b'^ans  and  Nonconformists. — Her  astonish- 
litni  iit  jeing  thwarted  by  Barrillon. — He  prefers 
bribery  to  intrigue. — Her  consummate  address. — 
She  makes  for  the  Duke  of  York's  friendship. — 
She  gets  a  percentage  on  Irish  taxes. — Webs  of 
intrigue  woven  round  Charles. — His  utter  sub- 
jection to  Louis. — Parliament  indefinitely  pro- 
rogued.— Louise  recovers  mental  serenity. — Her 
portrait  by  Gascar. — Count  Koenigsmarck  prose- 
cuted for  murder. — Louis  intervenes  to  stop 
prosecution. — The  Koenigsmarck  scandal. — The 
heiress   of  the  Earl  of   Northumberland.— The 


4 


l.^'\ 


i 


I  # 


XX  VI 11 


CONTENTS, 


CONTENTS. 


XXIX 


or 


irl-wife  and  widow  of  Lord  Ogle.— Her  abduc- 
iion  and  marriage  with  Thynne.  —  Thynne's 
assassination.— Her  third  marriage  at  fifteen  with 
the  Duke  of  Somerset.— Apparent  accomph'sh- 
ment  of  Louis  the  Fourteenth's  scheme.— Louise 
de  Keroualle  becomes  the  direct  link  between 
him  and  Charles.— She  keeps  England  in  subjec- 
tion to  France.— She  longs  to  revisit  Versailles 

CHAPTER  X. 
RETURN  TO  TRANCE. 
Cliarles  goes  to  Newmarket  and  Louise  visits  France. 
—She    draws    her    pension    in   advance.— The 
letters   of   recommendation    that    she   takes   to 
Louis  XIV.— By  his  command  she  is  received  as 
a    sovereign.— Her    visit    to   the   Capucines   in 
the   Rue    St.    Honore.— The   Duke    of   York's 
French   investments.— The    Duchess   of    Ports- 
mouth triumphs  in  France.— Her  success  there 
dazzles  the  English.— She  returns  to  London.— 
Her  undisputed  power  there.-She  takes  offence 
at  the   Dutch   minister.—He    humbles   himself 
before  her.— The  Queen  deferential  towards  her. 
—The    Duchess    Mazarin    accepts    Louise    de 
Keroualle's  supremacy.- Gallants   and  courtiers 
of  the  Duchess  Mazarin— Her  nephew,  Prince 
Eugene,  of  Savoy. -She   captivates   him.— Her 
daughters.— One  of  them  elopes  from  a  convent. 
The   fugitive's   adventures    and  marriage.— The 
gloom  and  sadness  of  the  Duchess  Mazarin.— 
She   kills    care   in    drink   and   gambling.— Her 
antique  vices.— How  she  lived  at  Newmarket.— 


Her  court  of  ladies 


PAGB 


234 


253 


•r 


CHAPTER  XL 

END  OF  THE  REIGN. 

Louise  de  Keroualle's  love  affair  with  the  Grand  Prior 
of  France.  —  Love  makes  her  imprudent.  — 
Charles  takes  umbrage,  but  puts  up  with  his 
rival. — Louise  receives  fresh  tokens  of  regard 
from  Louis. — Charles  jealous  but  unnerved. — Bar- 
rillon  comes  to  his  aid. — The  Grand  Prior  has  to 
leave  England. — Louise  fears  her  new  lover's 
indiscreet  tongue. — Louis  orders  him  to  keep 
silence. — The  Grand  Prior  recalled  to  Versailles. 
— Charles's  French  annuity  of  ;£6o,ooo.  — 
Rochester  and  Louise  alone  know  of  it.  —They 
both  direct  the  whole  Royal  family. — Louise  is 
consulted  about  the  proposed  match  of  Princess 
Anne  and  Prince  George  of  Demark. — She  sends 
her  miniature  to  the  King  of  Denmark. — She 
receives  ambassadors  in  state. — She  settles  inter- 
national broils. — She  represents  France  at  the 
marriage  of  the  Princess  Anne.— Indignation  of 
the  old  Ironsides. — Charles  in  their  eyes  *'  the 
Man  of  Sin."— Marks  of  God's  displeasure  at  his 
profligacy.— The  Rye  House  Plot.— Executions 
of  Sidney  and  Lord  Grey.— Charles  pities  Lord 
Grey's  children.  —  Louise  hardens  his  heart 
against  them. — She  obtains  their  father's  confis- 
cated estate  for  herself  and  Rochester.— Sub- 
jection to  her  of  Rochester  and  Godolphin.— 
Barrillon  chafes  at  her  yoke. — Louis  goes  on 
supporting  her.— Charles's  distress.— He  grants 
her  fresh  privileges.— Her  French  Duchy  to 
revert  to  her  son.— Her   scandalous   luxury.— 


PAGE 


1 


/ 


/- 


XXX 


CONTENTS. 


CONTENTS. 


XXXI 


Her  sumptuous  rooms  at  Whitehall. — A  sugges- 
tive haberdasher's  bill. — The  spoils  Louise's 
sister  took  to  France. — Voluptuousness  of  the 
Court. — The  Breton  favourite  is  the  Government 
of  England. — Louis  on  the  point  of  complete 
success. — The  death  of  Charles  IL — Confusion 
of  the  courtiers. — Louise  alone  shows  presence 
of  mind. —  She  comes  out  as  a  good  Catholic. — 
James  IL  promises  her  his  friendship. — His 
base  motives. — The  young  Duke  of  Richmond 
ceases  to  be  Grand  Equerry. — Louise  aims  at 
securing  ;^i 9,000  a  year. — James  grants  her 
^3,000  a  year. — ^^2,000  a  year  granted  to  the 
Duke  of  Richmond. — Louise  claims  ^30,000  a 
year  out  of  the  Irish  taxes. — She  misses  this 
mark. — What  she  can  take  to  France. — James 
visits  her. — She  leaves  England .... 


PAGE 


264 


of  Richmond  becomes  an  Orangist. — He  cuts  his 
French  connections. — Louis  transfers  his  pen- 
sion to  Louise. — Her  portraits. — Tier  pecuniary 
troubles.  —  Her  creditors. —  French  orders  of 
Council  to  stay  their  executions. — Louise's  appe- 
tite for  French  public  money. — Her  claims  on 
the  French  Crown. — Impoverishment  of  the 
French  Exchequer. — Louise's  begging  petitions  to 
the  Regent. — Their  success. — Death  of  Louise's 
sister  and  son. — Louise  devotes  herself  to  piety 
and  charity. — Her  death  and  burial— Her  ne- 
glected tomb. — Her  French  duchy  and  chateau. 
— Her  descendants.  —  England  pays  for  the 
services  rendered  to  ungrateful  France 


Letters  of  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth 


I'AGE 


292 


309 


CHAPTER  XIL 

IN  RETIREMENT, 

Those  whom  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth  survived. — 
Her  sister's  private  marriage. — The  Duke  of 
Richmond.  —  He  openly  enters  the  Catholic 
Church. — His  subsequent  relapse  into  Protes- 
tantism.— His  debauchery. — Louise  visits  Eng- 
land.— Courtin  prevents  Louis  XIV.  from  exiling 
her. — Her  obligatory  relations  with  England. — 
Her  niece  marries  Judge  Jeffrey's  son.— Louise 
is  suspected  in  France  of  being  a  spy  of  England. 
She  and  her  son  pay  court  to  William  III  — 
Her  English  annuity  suspended. — Her  furniture 
destroyed  in  the  fire  at  Whitehall.— The  Duke 


\ 


^if^MMPffT^ 


U 


TTcp  PT7  KEROUALLE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

ENGLAND  AND  THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIV. 

Louise  de  Keroualle  was  the  pretty  Breton 
who  became,  at  the  court  of  Charles  II.,  the 
pivot  on  which  the  ambitious  and  wide-reaching 
poh'cy  of  Louis  XIV.  turned.  To  her,  more  than 
to  any  statesman,  France  is  indebted  for  French 
Flanders,  the  Franche  Comte,  her  twice  secular 
pnsspqsion  of  Alsace,  her  old  ownership  of  the 
valley  of  the  Mississippi  and  Canada,  and  her 
lately  revived  claim  on  Madagascar.  One 
owes  the  sacrifice  of  everything  save  honour  to 
one's  country;  but  Louise  abandoned  fair  fame, 
and — although  her  posterity  stiiT  fatten  on  her 
ill-gotten  gains  at  the  expense  of  the  country 
on  wiiicii  she  saddled  them — her  memory  rots 
ill    England.      Englishmen  go  on  paying  the 

B 


1 


/ 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


tribute  she  extracted  from  them,  without  look- 
ing into  its  origin.     But   can  they  ever  pardon 
her  for  having  during  fifteen  years  held  Great 
Britain  in  her  delicate  little  hand,  and  manipu- 
lated its  king  and  statesmen  as  dexterously  as 
she  might  have  done  her  fan  ?     She  made  that 
country  a  tool  of  Louis  XIV.'s  policy,  and  en- 
abled him,  by  the  fineness  of  her  diplomatic  art, 
to  consolidate  the  geographical  unity  of  France. 
The  French  nation   has  forcrotten   this  Ao-nes 
Sorel,  who  undertook  to  seduce,  get  round,  and 
hold   a  monarch  whom   she  never  loved,  and 
who,  when  she  undertook  to  make  his  conquest, 
was  prematurely  old  from  profligacy.     She  is  so 
utterly  fallen  into  oblivion,  that  her  countrymen 
do  not  know  how   to  write  her  name.^     The 
same  forgetfulness  extends  to  the  name  of  her 
family  estate.     Even  Louise  de  Perrencour  de 
Keroualle's  descendants  suffer  the /^^^r^tr^,  2  ^j^^^ 

1  The  English  call  her  Querouailles,  and  the  French 
genealogists  Keroual.  Colbert  de  Croissy  wrote  her  name 
Queroul ;  in  the  charter  of  donation  to  her  of  the  lands  of 
Aubigny,  it  is  Keroel.  I  write  Keroualle,  after  old  family 
papers  in  the  Archives  Nationaks,  J.  152  ;  6.  (Author's 
Note.) 

2  Burke  :  Dictionary  of  the  Peerage,  under  the  heading 
of  "Richmond."  gives  as  the  root  of  the  ducal  house  o^f 


-i 


ENGLAND  AND   THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIV,  3 

Golden  Book  of  the  English  nobility,  to  state 
that  they  are  descended  from  the  daughter 
of  a  certain  Guillaume  de  Penencourt.  Yet 
these  Perrencours  were  not  a  family  to  be 
denied,  even  by  such  high-placed  descendants 
as  the  Dukes  of  Richmond.  The  follow^ing  is 
a  sketch  of  their  ancestry. 

Francois  de  Penhoet  married  Jeanne,  Lady 
of  Keroualle  de  Penancoet,  on  loth  May,  1330. 
The  Penhoets  w^ere  one  of  the  great  families 
of  the  bishopric  of  Leon,  of  wdiom  it  was 
said,  ''  The  Penhoets  for  antiquity,  the  Ker- 
mans  for  riches,  and  the  De  Kergournadecs 
for  chivalry."  The  children  of  this  marriage, 
took  the  maternal  name,  with  its  coat  of  arms. 
One  of  their  descendants,  Guillamue  de  Penan- 
cour,  married,  in  1645,  Mane  de  Ploeuc  de 
Timeur,  daughter  of  Marie  de  Rieux  ;  and 
one  of  their  children  was  Louise,  Duchess  of 
Pendennis  and  Portsmouth,  in  England,  and 
of  Aubigny,  in  France.^ 

Richmond,  "  Louise  Renee  de  Perrencourt " ;  under  the 
heading  of  "  Aubigny "  {foreign  titles),  he  puts  "  Louise 
Renee  de  Penencourt  de  Quenouaille,  Duchess  of  Ports- 
moiith  in  England,  daughter  of  Guillaume  de  Penencourt." 
^  Bibliotheque  Natio?taIe,  Cabinet  des  Titres,  No.  50,417. 
(Author's  Note.\ 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE 


1 1  does  not  count  for  much  in  our  time  to  be 
ci  \}'-  Mieux,  or  to  have  a  forefather  so  renowned 
for  bravery  in  the  r4th  century,  as  the  fair 
Louise  was  for  her  cold-bfooded  gallantries  in 
the  17th  century;  but  these  facts  of  race  and 
blazon  explain  the  circumstances  of  her  youth, 
and  enable  us  to  understand  how  she  was  able 
to  become  a  maid  of  honour  to  Henrietta  of 
England,  Duchess  of  Orleans.  They  also  set 
at  naught  the  ridiculous  stories  of  the  adven- 
tures in  which,  according  to  some  lampoonists 
and  pamphleteers,  her  early  years  were  spent. 

The  most  widely  known  of  the  libellous 
fictions  published  in  England  against  her,  is 
The  Secret  History  of  the  Duchess  of  Ports^ 
mouth.  An  English  edition  and  two  French 
ones,  as  well  as  a  large  number  of  manuscript 
copies,^  of  this  factum  were  circulated.  Accord- 
ing to  it,  lAIademoiselle  de  Keroualle  fled  from 
the  house  of  an  aunt  living  in  Paris,  disguised  as 
a  page,  and  accompanied  the  Due  de  Beaufort 

1  I  have  in  my  possession  one  of  these  manuscripts ;  but 
I  have  not  been  able  to  find  at  the  Bibliothlque  Rationale 
either  the  English  edition  of  1690  of  The  Secret  History  of 
the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth,  the  French  editions  of  1690  or 
the  Memoires  Secrets  de  la  Duchesse  de  Forts?nouth\y 
Jacques  Lacombe,  2  vols.,  i2mo;  Paris,  1805.  {Author's Note.) 


ENGLAND  AND    THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIV.  5 


in  the  expedition  to  Candia,  which  lasted  from 
5th  June  until  loth  October,  1669.  Now 
during  that  time  she  was  under  the  eyes  of 
the  whole  Court,  serving  as  maid  of  honour 
to  Henrietta,  Duchess  of  Orleans.  The 
calumny  must  have  originated  in  the  part 
taken  by  Louise's  brother  Sebastien  in  the 
unfortunate  Beaufort  expedition.  He  died  on 
his  return  from  Candia,  a  few  days  after  he 
landed  in  Provence.^  The  mourning  into 
which  his  family  were  thrown  was  distorted 
by  the  libeller  into  a  burlesque  fiction.  Most 
of  the  episodes  of  Louise's  life  were  malig- 
nantly twisted  in  the  same  way.  The  so- 
called  biographer  knew  enough  about  her 
early  life  to  give  an  air  of  truth  to  his  cruel 
inventions.^ 

It  was  in  the  year  in  which  Sebastien  died 
in  the  Due  de   Beaufort's  service  that   Louise 


*  Of  the  three  children,  only  the  daughters,  Louise  and 
Henriette,  survived. 

2  There  were  many  other  publications  of  this  kind : 
Memoirs  of  the  Court  of  England,  by  the  Countess  Dunois, 
1 708  ;  The  Secret  History  of  the  Reigns  of  King  Charles  II. 
and  James  11. ,  s.l.  1 690.  There  is  a  French  translation 
of  the  latter,  Cologne,  1690,  and  also  a  refutation.  The 
Blatajit  Beast  MuzzPd,  s.l.,  1691.    {Author's  Note.) 


Mmamsmmmmmi^^ 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


ENGLAND  AND   THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIV.  7 


made    tiie    acquaintance    of    the    Comte    de 
Saiilt. 

This  grentleman  was  son  of  the  1  '  :c  de 
Lesdigiiieres,  and  was  chief  victor  in  the 
famous  jousi.,  which  were  held  in  1662,  under 
the  windows  of  Tuileries,  and  gave  their 
name  t.  ihc  i'iace  de  Carrousel.  Father 
Anselmo  tells  us  that  he  passed  for  being  ui 
love  witii  a  maid  of  honour  of  Henrietta  of 
England,'  or  Madame  Henriette,  as  she  was 
called  111  i- ranee.  Thirteen  years  later  a  haughty 
English  nobleman  insultingly  reminded  Louise 
-     K-Toualle^f  this  early  attachment. 

i  i  'wever  uu.ocent  may  have  been  the  flirta- 
tions, in  a  dissipated  court,  of  a  girl  of  rank 
who  was  poor,  and  impatient  to  find  a  husband, 
It  IS  certain  that  the  fair  fame  of  the  Bretoimc 
was  tarnished.  Madame  de  Sevigne  and  Lou- 
vois  speak  slightingly  and  pitilessly  of  her 
relations  with  De  Sault.  Saint  Simon '  charges 
her  parents  with  having  aimed  at  throwina  her 
in  the  kmg's  way,   in  the  hope  that  he  might 

^  Pere  Anselme. 

'  ^f-     ^/^^'^'^  Etranghes,  Angkterre,  tome  cxiv.,  fol 
119,  du  6  Aout,  1674. 

^  Hacheite  :  Ecrits  inedlts  de  Saint  Simon,  t.  iv.,  p.  485. 


i  i  • 


i 


cast  her  his  pocket-handkerchief,  and  to  further 
this  mode  of  obtaining  a  settlement  for  her,  got 
her  into  the  household  of  his  sister-in-law,  who 
was  then  suspected  of  being  his  iiiibiress.  Un- 
r  rtunately  for  Mademoiselle  de  Keroualle, 
Louise  de  la  Valliere  was  also  a  niaid  ui 
honour  to  that  prmcess ;  and  the  king  fell  in 
love  with  her  soft  eyes,  which  only  spoke  of 
t-nler,  devoted  love.  \i  this  Louise  had  little 
cleverness,  *' she  was  gentle,  good  iiaiiir  K  an  1 
obliging,  and  made  herself  liked  at  court." 
Withoiit  believing  the  calumnious  pamphlets,  it 
may  be  supposed  that,  whether  owing  to  impru- 
(i(  ill  talk  or  to  ambitious  avowals,  Louise  passed 
for  a  piring  to  the  situation  ui  king's  favounie. 

J >  lore  Louis  XT\^  tried  what  ini^lit  be 
effected  through  women,  in  preserving  the 
alliance,  or  at  least  the  neutrality,  of  England, 
he  had  had  recourse  to  means  which  were 
not  sanctioned  by  diplomatic  usage. 

The  great  French  statesmen  ^v]^o  preceded 
him  never  risked  an  important  foreign  enter- 
prise without  first  securing  an  ally.  Richelieu 
entered  into  an  understanding  with  uustavus 
Adoln! 


lus 


^  ^  ^  "v 


w 


lazarin  witli  Cromwell.     Union 
Britain  was  all  the  mure  necessary 


i 


'^ 


8 


LOOJSE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


durinor  the  youth  of  Louis  XIV.,  because  the 
frontiers  of  his  kingdom  tended  to  advance 
into  Flanders,  a  country  linlced  with  England 
by  the  proximity  of  tiieir  coasts  and  by  'trade 
relations,  which  had  gone  on  for  several  hun- 
dred years. 

h  would  be  unjust  to  suppose  that  the  only 
sentiment  which  alienated  England  from  France 
m   the    .  7th   century,  was  jealousy   at    seeing 
the  extension  of  French   influence   and   com"^ 
merce  in  Flanders.       The  Protestant  passions 
ot    the   people,  and   the   Liberal   ideas  of  the 
arist,.racy,  inevitably  placed  England  in  con- 
H'ct    ,    :h   an   absolute,  and   a   Catholic   king, 
i^ohtical  mterests  became  intertwined  with  re- 
l.g.ous   feeling   to    such    a    point,  that    public 
opm.on    m    England    was    led    into    reversing 
agamst  the  Court  the  foreign  policy  of  Crom 
well  by   supporting  Spain,  the  most  ardent  foe 
01  the  Reformation,  against  Louis  XIV 
_    Whilst  the  posterity  of  Philip  IJ.  ,vas  falling 
mto  decrepitude,  and  slowly  dying  out  at  the 
Escunal,   each  of   the  powers  watched  for  an 
opportunity   to  snatch   a  part  of  its    heritaae 
Louis  wanted  to  seize  on  all    Flanders       He 
saw  that,  to  be  able  to  strike  his  blow  at  an 


ENGLAND  AND    THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIV  9 


opportune  moment,  the  agreement  of  England 
was  necessary.  Now,  towards  the  close  of 
Charles  II.'s  reign,  the  hatred  in  which  the 
Enoflish  held  Louis  was  not  doubtful.  There 
was  no  reliance  to  be  placed  in  the  unstable- 
minded  British  monarch.  And  yet  it  was  on 
Charles  II.  that  the  entire  efforts  of  French 
diplomacy  were  of  necessity  concentrated.  He 
was  the  only  possible  ally.  With  his  con- 
nivance in  the  projects  of  the  Court  of  Ver- 
sailles, the  animosity  of  England — the  nation 
— would  not  matter.  His  complicity  was  the 
one  condition  of  success.  Without  it,  every 
chance  must  be  given  up  of  preponderance  in 
Europe,  and  of  the  happy  execution  of  a  grand 
scheme  of  colonial  ao^Qfrandisement.  France 
might,  if  she  held  Charles,  do  as  she  pleased, 
not  only  in  Flanders,  but,  with  the  aid  of  the 
Jesuits,  all  the  world  oven  The  diplomatists 
of  Louis  XIV.,  seeing  what  frontier  extension, 
and  indeed  wide-world  expansion,  was  to  be 
obtained,  came  to  the  conclusion  that  all  scru- 
ples should  be  laid  aside. 

But  there  never  was  a  harder  man  to  hold 
ihan  Charles  11.,  whose  will  was  singularly 
unsteady,  and  whose  mind  was  the  most  ver- 


lO 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


satile,  bright,  shifty,  and  frivolous  of  any  prince 
in  Europe.     When  young-,  he  was  vokiptuous, 
loquacious,    easy   to    captivate,   and    charitable 
towards    intriguers    of  every  sort,  because    he 
held  a  low  opinion  of  human  nature,  and  felt 
that  he  set  an  example  himself  of  lax   morals 
and    had   mire-ward    proclivities.      He   put  on 
with  smiling  grace  a  show  of  elegance,  affected 
sensibility,  and   made  prodigality  pass   for  the 
outcome  of  generous  impulse.    In  many  respects 
he  was  like  Henri  HI.,  he  being  profuse,  a  con- 
noisseur of  art,  easy  going  with  those  around 
him,  insincere,  without  respect  for  his  encrao-e- 
ments,  incurably  apt  to  confound  knavery  with 
statecraft,   and   so   fond   of  lapdogs  as  to  turn 
his  apartments  into  a  disgusting  kennel.     They 
bred  about  on  his  sofas,  and  even  in  his  bed. 
In  the  bottom  of  his  heart  he  was  a  Catholic, 
at  the  time  when  he  became  head  of  the  An- 
glican Church.      He  understood  the  power   of 
quinine  to  check  ague  and  other  fevers  ;  dab- 
bled  in  alchemy  and   vivisection,  gave  a  fillip 
to    the    study    of  natural  philosophy,  was   free 
from  prejudices,  devoid  of  principle,  and  was 
an  amiable  epicurean,  so  entirely  without  back- 
bone that  he  went  so  far  in  cowardly  meanness 


ENGLAND  AND    THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIV.    ii 


as  to  deny  his  own  father.^  This  degrading 
denial  took  place  when  Charles  I.  was  hemmed 
in  by  fanatical  Scotch  Puritans.  -  It  was  given 
the  specious  name  of  "The  Prince  of  Wales's 
Declaration."  In  it  he  *' humbled  himself 
before  Almighty  God  because  of  the  com- 
placency with  which  his  father  had  hearkened 
unto  evil  counsels,  because  of  his  opposition 
to  the  Covenant,  and  likewise  because  of  the 
blood  of  the  Lord's  people  which  he  had  shed. 
The  Prince  of  Wales  also  confessed  his  own 
manifold  sins  and  the  sins  of  his  father's  house." 
He  was  wholly  devoid  of  moral  sense,  and  never 
rose  to  a  perception  of  the  social  use  of  honour. 

Such  was  the  man  whom  it  was  the  task  of 
French  diplomacy  to  hold.  His  mother  her- 
self, it  was  remembered  at  Versailles,  could  exert 
no  durable  authority  over  his  vacillating  will 
and  versatile  spirit.  In  appearing  to  yield,  he 
was  always  ready  to  slide  away.  He  was  only 
a  liar  under  pressure,  but  he  was  as  slippery  as 
an  eel,  and  as  fond  of  the  mud. 

Henrietta  Maria,  daughter  of  Henri  IV.,  had 
ruled  her  husband,  Charles  I.  Miss  Strickland 
and  some  of  Vandyke's  portraits  make  her  out 

^  Walker:  Historical  Discowses^  p.  170. 


WiminrtmiilKt* 


wsmmmummmmmitig^ 


12 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


ENGLAND  AND    THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIW    n 


a  beauty.  She  probably  had  when  young  the 
comeliness  of  youth  ;  but  after  the  Restoration 
she  was  a  little,  vulgar-looking,  and  very  com- 
monplace woman.  As  a  child,  she  was  the 
most  petted  member  of  her  family;  and  the 
person  on  whom  she  doubtless  unconsciously 
modelled  herself,  was  her  mother's  arroeant  and 
domineering  foster-sister,  favourite,  and  general 
directress,  Leonore  de  Galigai,  wife  of  Concini, 
Marechal  d'Ancre,  also  a  favourite  of  Marie 
de  Medici,  and  suspected,  with  too  good  reason, 
of  having  plotted  the  assassination  of  Henri  I V.^ 
Henrietta  Maria  behaved  on  the  throne  like  a 
spoiled  child  and  shrew.  She  does  not  seem 
to  have  had  any  plan  of  conduct  or  principle  of 
government,  beyond  doing  just  as  she  pleased, 
and  imposing  on  her  husband  the  notion  which 
happened  to  be  uppermost  in  her  mind.  He 
was  uxorious,  and  obeyed  her.     The  beginning 

^  The  Grand  Duke  of  Florence,  father  of  Marie  de 
Medici,  said  to  liis  daughter,  when  she  was  setting  out  as  a 
proxy-married  bride  for  France  :  "  Above  all  things,  make 
haste  to  have  an  heir."  He  sent  with  her  three  gallants 
whom  Henry  IV.  tolerated.  They  were  Virginio  and  Paolo 
Orsini,  and  Concini,  afterwards  the  Marechal  d'Ancre,  whose 
assassination  by  De  Luynes  released  Louis  XHI.  from  the 
thraldom  in  which  his  mother's  favourite  held  him. 


of  his  misfortunes  was  his  acquiescence  in  her 
order,  to  go  to  the  House  of  Commons,  and 
bring  her  *'  by  the  ears"  the  five  members  who 
stood  out  against  his  exorbitant  prerogatives. 
She    called    them    *'  those    five    crop -headed 


rogues. 


>> 


The  tragedies  in  which  this  queen  was  in- 
volved, her  terrible  reverses  of  fortune,  and 
the  oratorical  genius  of  Bossuet,  who  preached 
her  funeral  sermon,  surrounded  her,  in  the 
eyes  of  those  who  did  not  study  her  life,  with 
the  nimbus  of  a  martyr.  Her  contemporaries 
judged  her  severely,  and  wasted  but  small 
sympathy  on  her.  She  was  held  in  slight 
esteem  at  the  Court  of  France,  when  she  re- 
turned to  Paris  a  widow  and  a  proscript.  Her 
apologists,  past  and  present,  have  tried  to  ex- 
plain away  the  sarcasms  of  those  Englishmen 
of  her  time  and  circle  who  noticed  her  fondness 
for  Lord  Jermyn  and  submission  to  him,  her 
fear  of  giving  him  offence,  his  meddling  and 
overbearing  interference  in  all  her  concerns,  and 
his  masterful  tone  in  speaking  to  her.^     They 

^  Sir  John  Reresby  :  Memoirs^  p.  4.  "Lord  Jermyn  had 
the  queen  greatly  in  awe  of  him,  and  indeed  it  was  obvious 
that  he  had  uncommon  interest  in  her  and  her  concerns ; 


M 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


ENGLAND  AND   THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIV,    15 


have  tried  to  disprove  that  she  had  a  daughter, 
the  issue  of  a  secret  marriage  with  him.  How- 
ever, he  and  she  were  inseparable,  and  she 
braved  pubHc  opinion  in  going,  accompanied 
with  him,  to  pay  visits  of  ceremony.^  Colbert 
de  Croissy^  and  her  nephew  Louis  XIV.  him- 
self ^  are  crushincr  witnesses  arainst  her.     The 

but  that  he  .  .  .  had  children  by  her  I  did  not  then 
believe,  though  the  thing  was  certainly  so."  Her  own  son, 
James  II.,  did  not  dare  in  terms  to  contradict  this  fact, 
so  evident  was  it  to  his  contemporaries.  In  his  reply  {The 
Blatant  Beast  MuzzPd)  to  the  pamphleteers,  he  replied 
mildly  and  in  a  propitiating  tone  to  those  who  charged  his 
mother  with  being  the  mistress  and  then  the  wife  of  Lord 
Jermyn,  whilst  he  refuted  with  passionate  virulence  all  the 
other  attacks  on  his  family.  He  merely  said  in  reply  to 
the  former  accusations,  "  They  must  pardon  me  if  I  don't 
believe  them." 

1  Evelyn:  Diary,  Aug.  14,  1662.  Hamilton,  always  so 
well  informed,  speaks  of  this  union.  See  the  anonymous 
author  of  the  curious  Relation  d'Angleterre,  which  is  in 
Les  Cinq  Cents  de  Colbert,  tome  iv.  p.  78  :  "  Le  Comte  de  St. 
Jermyn  est  toujours  attache  a  ses  interests."  {Translator s 
Note.) 

2  MS.  Affaires  Etratigeres,  Angleterre,  tome  xciii.,  fol. 
181,  du  28  Nov.,  1668. 

3  Colber  de  Croissy  was  a  brother  of  the  great  minister 
Colbert,  and  for  some  time  ambassador  of  Louis  XIV.  to 
Whitehall.  He  was  sent  on  other  embassies.  In  nego- 
tiating with  men,  he  showed  great  abihiy ;  but  he  did  not 
understand  how  to  utilize  women.  On  his  recall  from 
England  he  was  named  Secretary  for  Foreign  Affairs. 


former,  in  writing  from  London  to  Versailles 
just  after  the  formation  of  the  Cabal,  says  : 
''  The  Duke  of  Buckingham  takes  for  granted 
the  necessity  of  an  impossible  thing,  when  he 
speaks  of  a  secret  imparted  to  the  queen- 
dowager  of  England  not  coming  to  Lord  St. 
Albans'  (Jermyn's)  knowledge.  It  would  be 
the  sheerest  self-deception  to  hope  that  this 
might  be  done." 

In  counting,  therefore,  on  Henrietta  Maria, 
the  Court  of  Versailles  would  have  had  to 
reckon  on  St.  Albans.  Those  who  had  hoped 
otherwise  were  nursing  an  illusion.  The  king 
of  France  therefore  sought  to  find  a  wife  for 
Charles  soon  after  the  Restoration  had  been 
effected.  It  being  useless  to  try  and  hold  him 
by  means  of  the  queen-dowager,  he  tried  to 
influence  him  through  a  queen-consort. 

Spain  being  an  adversary  of  France,  it  was 
among  her  most  bitter  foes  that  Louis  sought 
a  wife  for  the  restored  monarch.  He  chose  a 
Portuguese  princess,  in  doing  which  he  made  a 
blunder.  The  Portuofuese  then,  like  the  Moors, 
kept  their  women  in  ignorance  and  seclusion. 
Instead  of  a  princess  used  to  the  intrigues  and 
complexities  of  Court  life,  and  able  to  domineer 


I 


,,.Jfc^  ^, 


w 


i6 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


a  rakish  husband,  Charles  II.  was  mated  to  a 
swarthy  dwarf  of  twenty-four,  who,  when  she 
arrived  in  England;  had  never  in  her  Hfe 
spoken  to  a  man,  even  during  the  voyage. 
Her  sedentary  habits  had  made  her  obese ; 
and  this  defect  was  thrown  into  relief  by  her 
curious  mode  of  dressing.  She  was  of  a  squat 
fio-ure  and  a  brown  complexion  ;  her  teeth 
were  so  badly  set  as  to  be  a  deformity.^  *' There 
really  is  nothing  in  her  face  to  inspire  positive 
disgust,"  said  Charles  mournfully,  after  the  first 
interview.^  He  was  mightily  pleased,  when  the 
wedding  ceremony  was  over,  that  she  was  too 
tired  after  her  voyage  not  to  wish  to  be  left 
entirely  alone.^  The  Portuguese  ladies  who 
came  with  her  were  not  seductive,^  and  wore 
monstrous  hoops,  which  followed  the  waddling 

1  According  to  Lord  Dartmouth,  ''  her  fore  teeth  stood 
out  so  as  to  shorten  her  upper  lip."  Evelyn  makes  the 
same  remark  :  "  Her  teeth  wrongeth  her  mouth  by  sticking 
out  too  far."  These  defects  are  artistically  slurred  over  by 
Sir  Peter  Lely. 

2  Letter  of  Clarendon,  cited  by  Miss  Strickland,  viii., 
p.  304. 

3  The  king  to  Clarendon,  May  21,  1662,  published  from 
the  MS.  of  the  British  Museum  by  Fellowes  (Historical 
Sketches). 

*  Evelyn  :  Diar}\  May  30,  1662. 


ENGLAND  AND   THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIV,    17 


movement  of  their  gait.  These  farthingales 
were  called  by  them  gardes-infantes.  Their 
headgears  were  as  funny,  to  English  and 
French  eyes,  as  their  skirts ;  and  the  skins  of 
all  were  of  a  deep  olive.  Charles  wished  for 
more  pleasing  objects.  fnstead  of  retaining 
them  in  his  wife's  service,  he  drew  up  a  list 
of  bedchamber  ladies,  at  the  head  of  which  he 
placed  the  Countess  of  Castlemaine. 

Ignorant  as  the  new  queen  was,  she  uttered 
a  cry  of  protest  when  she  heard  of  this  bed- 
chamber nomination. 

Lady  Castlemaine  had,  as  Mrs.  Palmer,  en- 
gaged in  an  amorous  intrigue  with  Charles  soon 
after  the  Restoration.^  He,  the  Duke  of  York, 
and  young  sparks  in  their  suites  made  up  to 
her  to  infuriate  her  husband  and  enjoy  the 
game  of  making  him  justly  jealous.  The  Duke 
of  York,  to  keep  his  mind  from  absorbing  the 
heretical  Anglican  service  which  he  had  to 
attend  at  the  Chapel  Royal,  used  to  draw  aside 
the  curtains  of  the  royal  pew  to  ogle  Mrs. 
Palmer,  who  performed  her  devotions  in  the 
one  next  to  it.  She  appears,  however,  to  have 
soon  dropped  the  heir  presumptive,  to  become 

1  Pepys  :  X>/^/7,  13th  July,   1660. 

c 


i8 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


publicly  the  king's  favourite.     At  the  time  of 
the  formation  of  the  Cabal,  she  was  in  all  the 
pride    of    her   beauty,    which    was    splendidly 
attractive.     If  her  nose  was  slightly  turned  up,' 
it  o-ave  her  a  sauciness  that  was  piquant.       Her 
figure  was  tall,  and  of  a  rich,  harmonious  out- 
line.    The  eyes  and  hair  were  dark,  and   her 
skin  glowed    with    health   and   life.      Her   lips 
were  cherry  red,  and  her  bust, — which,  in  the 
fashion  of  the  day,  her  loose  and  falling  upper 
o-arments  and  thin  smocks  did  not  hide, — was 
white  as  snow.     The  eyes,  if  not  large,  were 
lively  and  bright.     They  spared  none  of  their 
artillery  to   conquer,  and  promised   everything 
to  retain  the  captive.     Nor  did  the  lady  dis- 
appoint  the   hopes    she  thus    excited.     There 
must  have  been  something  very  taking  in  her 
appearance,    which    enabled    her    to    face    the 
London    populace   in    its    den.       Lady  Castle- 
maine  was  fond  of  going  to  see  the  puppets  at 
St.  Bartholomew's  fair.     The   common   people, 
hearing  that  she  was  there,  collected  round  the 
show  to  hoot  *'  the  king's  miss."     But  the  sight 
of  her  lovely  face  disarmed  them,  and  she  was 
allowed  to  go  quietly  to  her  carriage,  and  ride  off. 
1  Relation  d'Angkterre.    Cinq  Cents  de  Colbert,  t.  v.,  p.  478. 


ENGLAND  AND    THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIV,    19 


Lady   Castlemaine  did    not    long    hold    her 
ground   against    Louise    de     Keroualle,    when 
that  charming  French  beauty  entered  the  arena 
against  her ;  but  she  had  an  easy  triumph  over 
Queen  Catherine,  who  pricked '  her  name  from 
the    king's    list    of    bedchamber   women,   and 
who,  when  she  saw  her  husband  lead  the  beau- 
tiful mistress  in  to  her  by  the  hand,  was  seized 
with    convulsions  and  got  black  in    the    face. 
This  was  taken  as  an  affront   by  Lady  Castle- 
maine, who  meant  to  lie  in  at  Hampton  Court, 
and    demanded    an  apology.     Charles  thought 
the  queen  should    humble   herself   before  the 
favourite,  and  wrote  to  say  so  to  the  Chancellor 
Clarendon,    who    was    trying    to   make   peace 
between  the  royal  couple.     The  mistress  flared 
up  at  his  daring  to  meddle  in  the  matter,  and 
put    the   king   on    to   resent    his    interference. 
"  Nobody,'*  he  wrote  to  Clarendon,  '^  shall  pre- 
sume to  meddle  in  the  affairs  of  the  Countess 
of  Castlemaine.     Whoever  dares  to  do  so,  will 
have  cause  to  repent  it  to  the  last  moment  of 
his  life.     Nothing  will  shake  the  resolution  I 
have  taken   with    regard    to  her ;  and    I   shall 
consent  to  be  miserable  in  this  'world  and  the 
^  See  Clarendon,  Fellowes,  Miss  Strickland. 


20 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


next,  if  I  yield  in  my  decision,  which  is,  that 
she  continue  a  bedchamber  lady  to  the  queen. 
I  shall,  to  the  last  hour  of  my  life,  regard  any 
one  who  opposes  me  in  this  as  my  enemy ;  and 
whosoever  shows  himself  hostile  to  the  Countess 
will,  I  swear  by  my  honour,  earn  my  undying 

displeasure." 

The  queen  remained  inflexible  for  some 
weeks,  and  was  open  in  her  anger.  She  then 
let  herself  be  coaxed  round.  The  citizens  of 
London  were  treated  to  the  sight  of  wife  and 
concubine  driving  through  the  streets,  in  grand 
array,  in  the  same  carriage,^  along  with  young 
Crofts,^  the  son  of  a  former  mistress,  and  the 
darling  of  the  queen,  the  queen-dowager,  and 
of  Lady  Castlemaine. 

After  yielding,  Catherine  made  up  her  mind 
to  struggle  no  more,  and  to  lead  an  easy  life  by 
siuitting  her  eyes  to  her  husband's  vices.  She 
put  up  with  the  companionship  of  his  favourite, 
and  even  showed  a  greater  liking  for  her  than 
for  any  other  lady  at  court.  The  English 
esteemed    the    queen  a  good  wife,    who   bore 

1  Pepys  :  Diary,  7th  September,  1662. 
*  Afterwards  D«ike  of  Monmouth. 


ENGLAND  AND    THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIV.    21 

herself  meekly  when  her  patience  was  most 
severely  tried. 

Catherine  was  avenged  on  her  husband  by 
the  shrewish  temper  of  her  rival.  Charles  was 
constantly  the  object  of  Lady  Castlemaine*s 
truculent  abuse.  He  often  returned  from  her 
house  overpowered  by  it.  Every  one  knew 
she  played  him  false.  If  he  dared  show 
jealousy,  he  was  soon  reduced  to  beg  pardon 
on  his  knees,  and  swear  that  he  would  never 
again  harbour  insulting  suspicions  about  her  con- 
duct.^ When  he  caught  her  in  John  Churchill's 
arms,  he  only  showed  his  resentment  by  saying 
to  the  young  man  that,  as  he  had  become 
her  lover  to  escape  from  starving,  he  forgave 
him.^ 

Lady  Castlemaine  was  ready  to  accept  over- 
tures from  France,  and  to  support  the  policy 
of  Louis  XIV.,  as  Colbert  de  Croissy  soon 
informed  him. 

"The    king,"    wrote     in    answer    Secretary 

1  Pepys  :  Diary,  7th  August,  1667. 

2  MS.  Affaires  Etrangcres,  Atigleterre,  tome  cxxxvii.,  fol. 
400.  Relation  de  la  Cour  d^Afjgleterre.  See  also,  on  this 
subject,  the  letter  of  the  ambassador  Courtin  to  the  minister 
Louvois,  ibid.,  tome  cxx.,  C,  fol. '206,  Nov.  16,  1676. 


f 

h 


22 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE 


ENGLAND  AND    THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIV.   23 


Lionne/  ''  thinks  well   of  your  efforts  to  obtain 
the  help  of  the  Countess  of  Castlemaine,  and 
read  with  interest   of  her  point-blank   way  of 
telling  you  how  King  Charles ^  had  confided  to 
her  that  Lord  Arlington  would  not  hear  of  an 
alliance  with  France.      His  majesty  hopes  that 
you  will  profit  by  this  good   beginning,  and  he 
authorizes  you,   if   you  judge   well,   to   let  her 
know  that  you  have  reported  what  she  said  to 
his  majesty,  who  charges  you  to  offer  her  his 
warmest  thanks.       In   this  order  of   ideas,  the 
king  has   directed  your  brother,  the  Treasurer, 
to  send  her  a  handsome  present,  which  you  can 
give  her  as  if  from  yourself.      Ladies  are  fond 
of    such    keepsakes,    whatever    may    be   their 
breeding    or    disposition;    and    a    nice    litde 
present  can  in  any  case  do  no  harm." 

Lionne  ^  renewed  his  instructions  a  few  days 
later  in  these  terms:  ''His  majesty  attaches 
great  importance  to  all  you  can  say  about  Lady 

1  In  all  the  diplomatic  French  despatches  the  king  is 
Louis  XIV.  To  every  other  king  the  name  of  the  country 
over  which  he  reigns  is  added.  It  is  however  impossible 
to  cling  to  this  formula  in  all  the  extracts  from  official 
papers. 

2  MS.  Aj^aires  Eirangcres,  3  Avril,  1667. 
^  April  20,  1669. 


Castlemaine.  You  can,  if  you  think  fit,  agree 
with  your  brother  touching  the  present  the 
king  intends  to  make  this  lady.  .  .  .  His 
majesty  warmly  approves  your  idea  of  getting 
her  to  put  into  the  King  of  England's  head 
that  the  Presbyterians  and  Nonconformists  are 
ill  affected  towards  monarchy."  ^ 

But  Madam  Castlemaine  was   not  the   kind 
of  secret   service   agent    the    king   of    France 
wanted.     Not  that  she  was   insensible  to  nice 
little  presents,  or  that  she  was  not  in  constant 
need  of  money.      Her  hatred  of  every  curb  to 
her    luxurious    caprices,    and    her    prodigality, 
drew  her  into   expenses  which  astonished  the 
Court.     Whitehall    wondered    at    the    fineness 
of  her    cambric   shifts ;    at    her   smocks    and 
linen  petticoats  frilled  with  the  richest  lace,  and 
at   her   costly   furniture    and    plate.       But    an 
ambassador    could    not    rely   on    her   support, 
because  she  gave  herself  up  completely  to  the 
passion   of    the    moment,    whether    it   was    an 
amorous  one  or  arose  from  ardent  rivalry  with 
some  other  lady  of  the  Court.      Her  quarrels 
with    the    beauties    of   easy   virtue     who    sur- 
rounded Charles  H.  were  as  much  (if  not  more) 

^  April  23,  1669. 


24 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


the  object  of  deep  concern  to  the  King  of 
France,  as  the  mihtary  evolutions  of  Turenne 
an  '   Conde.     A  war   with    England   depended 

^^-  ^       iUiiii  ,ur  of  an  actress  -r  a  bedchamber 


w , 


iin, 


I : 


Til-  Tr 


■■    ■'-     ^'    -  'ins   ( 


i 


■'   [    \v. 


t      1 1  ■ 


( )i  i  '' 


1    1 


aaese 


iie 


the 


i^^-'l^     11      \'nll     W-t'Tr:    to 


'-    i  L    w  (j:ii(  i     I  >ira<e 

1 


,-!■ 


1  '  tli:it  iiaiiiiL'ii 


e 


"'  ^'''-  P'''\''^t'--   l'''-   '""  til.-  ki„,^-  ,,r  ]-.n,^l,ind,  Mv\ 
in    what    is    known   as   \\v_    inn..,-  circi,-  of    his 
^""'■'•"  ^   "--^s  ynu   havr   not,"    rotiirn-jd    M.    de 
^■""'"f-^'''   "ih'-'"L:!it   ami^,^    tliat    I    should    kcx-;. 
you    infonned    about    the    squaljld..>s    of    thes,:- 
ladies,  which  are  often  as  much  a  cause  of  deej. 
concern  to  the  Kin.i^  of  En-huid   as  the  most 
serious  business,  I  shall  continue  to  write  about 
them."     "I  have,"  wrote   Louis   XIV,    him.elf 
to   M.    Colbert    de   Crois.y,^   -  Iieard  read   with 
great    pleasure    the    curioLrs    details    xovx    have 
written    to   M.  de   Lionne    about    tlie' intrigues 
Ol    the    Kn-lish    Court,    and    tlu:   broils    of'^^th,' 
ladies    who    are    tlie    cliief  person:i-cs    there." 

.^'^'  '^^1      -  ■■^'       I     •  i  1  V   .  ,       i  I  ;  :,  n 

-  ^^'^-^>  :.i  Jamicr,  nva;. 


ENGLAND  AND   THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIV,    2$ 


*'  I  shall  take  more  pains  than  ever,"  replied 
Colbert,^  to  ascertain  what  croes  on  amono^  the 
ladies,  since  you  do  not  think  it  beneath  you 
to  show  ail  interest  in  their  quarrels,  and  the 
kinc>"  himself  deien:^ 
those    Jit  tie   affiirs. 


.u   W 


:\\ 


iane"e; 


C 


Th  -^-.^X 


I.     !    .     1     !     i 


L,    (-> 


\\  i.  a 


to  nialvt:  a  iresli  |jiaa>ent  to  aljiiain  Ca^o-ariaau-. 
He  sa\-a  "1  have  i^ivaai  awa\-  ali  triar  I 
brou-Iit  from  France,  not  cxccptini^-  the  skirts 
and  smocks  made  up  for  my  willr  and  I  have 
not  mone)'  enougli  to  go  on  at  this  rate.  Xor 
do  I  see  the  use  of  going  to  much  expense,  in 
satisfxmii'-  the  c^recd  of  the  women  here  for 
rich  keepsakes.  The  king  often  sa\-s,''  that  the 
only  woman  who  has  reallv  a  hold  on  him, 
is  his  sister,  the  Duchess  of  Orleans.  If  hand- 
some gifts  are  lavished  on  Madam  Castlemaine, 
his  majesty  may  think  that,  in  spite  of  his 
assertions  to  the  contrary,  we  fancy  that  she 
rules  him,  and  take  it  in  bad  part.  I  sliould 
tlierefore  advise  giving  her  only  sucJi  trifling 
tokens  as   a   pair  of  h^rench    glo\-es,    ribanals,    a 


M-, 


■{/Ki/rcj  /:/r{7;/xyres^  i.}  J^ai.,  1669. 
-    /'a/,,  7  ]-'c\Ticr,  I  ('}()(). 
'^  liiJ.,  14  l-cvricr,  1069. 


^^ 


i 


20 


Zu  (17.^7.    DL   KLROUALLE, 


>.-5 


ct> 


vjwn,  or    suinc  litUt'  of.iCi:t  (jf 


^^     7r:ivcr     matter     than     bcdiz-niiViiH     flir 
^Li7a:M    Castleni.iine    was    d.-alt    wiiii,   at    tins 
juncture,  in   the  cr,nx'S|u_)!KJt.!nc(:  of  M.    CrJ!)('rt 
"^^    Cnus.y.      He   wa.   struck   with   the  madness 
^^  ^''  ^^^^l-^  o^'  Hn-Iand's   mannrr,  liis  constant 
'^;i^^''-^^i'>'^^    and    his    aversion    t(j    cIku    ahnut 
IcuroiMjan  alLiirs,  wiiich   usimI    to   l;e  one  <_,r  ].;, 
^^^^■'"^^^■^^^     topics.-        -The     -luuin     which     tiie 
kni-'s   lace  and   manner  betray  lias  h(!(;n  sucli, 
that    it    was    im[)ossii)ie   not  to    feel    there   was 
some  -reat  catise   for  it.      After  seeking-  un   all 
side^   for  a  rea^^on,  I  discovered   tliat   it  s|irane 
from    an    amotir    with  a   youn-  -irl    m    Mada 
Castkenaines     hoiisehekJ,     whosc^      o-i-nre     at.n 
beaut\-  made,    when    she    served    Vm.:   kin-,    the 
'^^d'^'y-^i'^n  that   mi-dit  l;e  expected   on  a  lahnce 

As  she   tlioueht  it  iier 


1 


\\aaj  IS  fond  oi 


iian 


1     c. 


dut\-  not  to  Stand  out  ac^ainst  his  desire,  her 
mistress  was  so  vexed,  tiiat  she  turned  Iter  into 
the  street  at  midnight.  But  this  amour  does 
not  [)revent  Madam  Castlemaine  from  beini;  as 
powerful  as  ever." 

This  present  was  sent  by  tiie  minister  C(7i)crt,  on  May 
S,  iG(j'). 


-  ( 


^'-'1,  ert  de  Crois^v  a  17 


^>  tevncr, 


ue.9. 


•v 


ENGLAND  AND    THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIl\    27 

Barbar..  Villier^  IkilI  ah"ea(l\'  been  tie:  'Jciim 

of   her  f^mcv  to   be   siirrouniUjii   b\*   the    hand- 

)uld  \\\\d.      Idle  mu:-L  adu^ 


soniest  7  a  niseis  sue  couiu  wwkA. 

lateil  L't-autieD  wiTC  eiad  to  be  in  her  trahi.    ddie 


pPeU 
e 


.ad\-  ^sand\\aidl  liumld)-  spok 


i"   e*       1 

7   nareaia 


;l^    iiia 


r   (  )\]>-f]\ 


>  e  a  u  lA  . 


AhiJani  Ca-tkaieiine 


had  alsn  anejre,(  her  maids  of  himnur  rra!u7;s 
Stuart,  knewn  cis  the  lieautiml  Miss  Stuart, 
whom  hiie  (jfien  kei>t  to  sle'jp  in  her  rrMene> 
at  Wdntehall,  and  shi^htini^l)-  spoke  (7  as  ieu' 
little  Stuartd  The  kiriL:-,  who  seldi-m  fuh-vl  to 
visit  leiricira  before  she  L70t  u')  in  tiir;  mundng, 
saw  Mi-s  Stuart  in  the  bed  beside  her.       It  was 

reater  ]jeaut\"  and  more 
than  were  to  l)e  f(:)und  in  this  you  UT- 
AH     hi;r      ieatures     were      ol      ])erleCL 


not   po::5:^u_;ie  to  uuite 

1    1 

c!  unless 


)e  it 


s 


was  of   an   tcect   carnaeo.  ano 


;d)o\'e   the   common   heieht,      \\  e  stnl    ari-   :d7e 


to 


I  -* 


.;'   e  '      K) 


)f  the  (drecian  reeadaritx'  ol  her  \a-aL 


'"  e . 


and  ot   liu. 


OlltiUU, 


s 


oi   iier   lieiire.  wnicli  wa'uia 


1  1 


]y.X\Q    beiai    faultless.    w< 


'ere   hei'  waist   less    iiieh 
and  her  carriai^e  less  sthi''      Miss  Stuart  served 

^    riaae.  July  20,  1  (n>2, 

^  I7.i>v-,  March  2^,  1663;  IIA^maoN:  JA///t/ov  7c 
C  riVJU'fil. 

■'  RtUitici!  d'AiKUfLrrc,  AIS.  /e'/a  Nat.,  I-\  >:.h  C^i^rt, 
4;h. 


11' 


S2  \ 


lllv  u 


li 


23 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


:is    a   nv 


'A  r 


R( 


Hritannia  which  is  on  the 

I^i.^icLud.        1  11-    ciigraver, 
r;  roduced     h   r    on    the 


h:. 


1         ! 


o  ■  ■ 


i     t  L  1 


t'ff'i--\'.      I'n',:  fa 


ti  1 


an 


aiii:.*: 


'^^r, 


calling  oa   her,   begged  her  a-^  r 


<  t 


w 


!o 


IS  successors  have  copied  her 

an-1   fnrm.  of   M'.^;   ^tuart  are 
L  \aidel\    ivaLaaai  of  any  beauty 
.^Dhe  had,"  2  g^id  a  diploma- 
tic despatala   "a  iag  so  admirabla    anpcJ   th.t 

arriving    In    1  r gland    and 

avonr  to  let 
him  see  alnirKt  up  to  laa-  knee,  so  as  t...  i  ^.  able 
f, .  .-,-;».^  r.-,  a: ........  .      ,      ,-  .        ,       ,     , 

^^^^-'i  -'''^"--  til-  i..arfection  of  la-r  aaf  and 
Mi^-  Mat  wa^  not  rapacious.  She 
a'istied  waa  a  jiension  of  /'700  a  year, 
^^^  ■  '  -  ;■  ira.s  granted  her,  and  only  asked  him 
t-r    ^6000    v.aa;ii     of   jewels    when    she    was 

^  The  three  brothers  Rothier  were  French,  and  were  em- 
ployed to  design  medals  at  the  English  mint,  from  1661.  See 
Redington's  Calendar  of  Treasury  Papers,  preface,  p.  1 6.  The 
tv.u  )  jungest,  Joseph  and  Philip,  took  the  direction  of  the 
Paris  and  Brussels  mints;  John,  the  eldest,  remained  alone 
in  England.  II.  lost  his  right  hand  in  1689,  and  was 
replaced  by  his  son  James. 

2  Relation  d' Angleterre,  MS.  Affaires  Etranghes,  tome 
cxxxvii.,  fol.  400. 

3  Ibid. 


^  ^ 


ENGLAND  AND    THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIV.   29 

engaged  to  be  married  a)  the  Duke  of  Rich- 
mond, whom  slie  persuaded  that,  notwithstand- 
ing her  four  years'  intimacy  uaui  liia  king  and 
T  rii '  a  Lastiemaine,  she  was  as  virtuous  as  no 
nuiLa  r  what  pure  English  girl.^  She  went  on 
receiving  the  king's  visits  after  her  marriage. 
iitii  he  only  called  on  her  at  ra^ht,  and  un- 
attended by  his  gentlemen,  a  ])y  an  escort. 
''Sometimes  iie  btole  down  the  nver  stairs  at 
Somerset  House,  and  sculled  himself  in  a  punt 
to  Richmond  House,  landing  beneath  a  low 
wall  which  he  climbed  over."  The  French 
ambassador  was  not  so  unaccustomed  to  the 
manners  of  the  Court  01  Imorland  as  to  think 
tlaat  a  middle-aged  king  who  acted  thus  was  a 
disgrace  to  monarchy.  The  lovely  btuart  was 
destined  to  be  arrayed  among  the  enemies  of 
Louise  Keroualle,  pitted  with  smallpox  and 
blind  of  an  eye.^ 

In  the  Cytherean  anarchy  which  preceded 
the  reign  of  Louise  Karoualle,  the  woman  in 
whom  she  was  to  find  her  most  formidable 
rival  began  to  fix  attention.  She  was  an 
orange  girl  of  such  a  finely-wrought  physique 

1  Pepys,  April,  1667. 

2  She  was  a  widow  in  1672,  and  died  in  1702. 


%o 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


aiiu  t 


ii(.-r 


tha:     rofessiona!  \\o.:,  to  which   sh-  was  reared, 

'^'}' "^^"'^  '-^niardship  (;<-:.:M    laa   -.;,.,;]  her 

^vai\'    ail:!    prett}',    haa    a    cainac    L;\:nuis,    L;race, 

bra:-s,     rnaaii  ;     and,     ali^-'t     '-n^dnat rn-;] 

t^'^^;;'^^^-     ^vas     cattina.        1  i-r     a  ^aiv     -  ^ 

^--d^-i^K'   leaiinia^,:   tiail    >:a'   C(nu.i    w^a^-  niaa's 

c^^-^^!^-^  vaui  advantage.     >:u:  laid  fIm-  naan  ihc 

lat  ui    the    Kiaj's   T]u;atr-,   ia   wia^ai    s!a-   :.^a,i 

^-'^"^-^^^■■^-  '-^   ^^^^-^  ^t^^^;'^-.    ^^nd  Jr-w   ah    ira-   Id  aaa 
i^^    i-h^:    '"Xhu-arirs  nf  hd-ra,"   hi    v  -d^-d    j,,.  ,>.^._ 


V »  1 1  .~>        ;-)  I  > 


T   >1 


O 


(    )::Mr- 


}uaa.4 


5  J 


in    wliich  sha    vai-,    ■'  I 


.M  aa 


^^   '■■ 


a 


gay 


■ '  ^  -    I V     ,        c  1  i  i  i. 


a  ^"11 


>f 


..r 


...  i     1    V  4  i 


ijaaca.   A.inauaa^-       m    a 
brainnu-' ^  '^  '^       *  ■ 
\\  ci.'^i    a 

Cuart. 
1        •  ■  , 

(  1  '  J  P  i'"  '  r 'i     ^-     -  I  I  ►•  i 

bi  iii  Ui  t^iu,a^jLl^]  \     I 

\viK)ai  bha  cah-^- 


i  • '  a- 


t  -  > 


■  1 


a 


^  da'  n  a;i !  i  \ 


i  I 


^■^-^   ^'i-i'"  aa:^  aiayan,  aiiu  bile 
"'  '^''   -  d    In    the    over-raked 

:-<iia     \\\i-^,     i  t     'was    s;  I 

I    show.       i\e 

\  I    ^.-^    ■  '•  ♦    a  I 

^    '      *      ^  »    v^  i.    »    4  •  .  ,  1 


C  t  iw.    t  * 


kin 


a 


^r     i.i ' 


\' 


pany,  ^\-a,a.waa 
to  C 


1  ■■  8'      . 

r  Charles  Id';  Ida:  ihe 
:r  -^  diaades  II.":  aa  \  the 
^^'h  Rowley."     Inhercom- 

d  soundness  had  remained 
1  ii    a  ill  got  emas- 


v^  it,^  i  w , 


1/ 


E.VGLAND  AND   THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIV.   -i 

culated    from    his    own    vices   and    pleasurable 

aaa  ais.      Italian 


^_-'    L   i    i.  L  ( 


Vices  of  a 


'aaiaari:;    came    to    aira.;    a.. 

caaaanjia       The    wiih.*  ^n 
a  .  ? ,  -a ,     "    a  a  ^. ..    ."  ^  ^ 

»■■   I-  -'»..-..  .        »  i  i  .  i  i        i  4   '-  .'  i  i  i       L  t  i  ',.   I.  L  L  1   '.. .  r> 

I  laLaa. :-a  ana  «.)a 
1  a. u )n  r(); ra  ^aaua 
oaa    (^r  aa 


ana    \n    ai-    orreen 

■Asih'    dj\\"\aaa    dr^nr 

^^"■■-^•^^s.      1  i w  ia-cparable 

:^    aia   oi    ^aa^^aada'.  ,    was 
^'^'■'■^'i   happily-o-ifttjci^  an^ 


1 1 1    i  1  i  .• 
J  i  1    1 1  i  -> 


I  '.  --. 


a.icable,  aian    of    the    |)ara.,H..h- - 

.Buckinorhaai    Wa:.   a^    NddL.d 
wnnian  as  in  gaining  ^i  ;Ma.a.da,r  r 

wa:-  laaraad  a,.)  a.  niece  \A.    k^aoww 
tr'Uiijled  his  head  4dK  -ai  iaa-   i 


\'-\.    \\\ 


!    I 


(1 


f 


i    "^educino:  a 

-^•aa=ly.  He 
hi.  \)\\i  never 
^  to  wish  lui 


'I..    ^''^^^Lu.      ^.v.)aau.    a..^    anUf.ataka    ncj    matt^r 


-it  •   ■:•;      ,   f 


aiCii  j  j»,iati:     to 


a  I 


J  i  i 


^^--■'^^^^"--    ^"^    ^^-    creduloa-    naih     charlatans, 
tu   ^raal   thoughts,   ^aiach,,,    ui^.olcnt,    aad 
>iave   of   each    whim  th^a   aHd    !iis   fancy. 

^i'a;i^t(  :a.  who  was 


aMit 


i  f  * 


aa::aa 


entirely  on 


(.)ai  nt   natred   lu  hi:^  ]i\aih 
^'nat.:a    ha  Saaaa  aa   threw 
Lar  h  ranch  side. 

Arlington  and  Buckingham  thouq-ht  alike  on 
una  poait  only.  They  waa-  in  ai  afraid  of  the 
ntnra  a'  Clarendoia  whom  aa  a  Cabal  had 
aaai..a.       '-^iraa^aon     is    j, >■-],]    .S    iuxury    and 


• 


I 


«' 


32 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


:U."-   wrote  I\I.   de  Croissy.      "If  he 


WOulli    \\:i\y:    to    !i\'C    >a\ 


with     Spain,    he 

i  I     ]i a-  the  mark 


i  (  ):-^ > 


u: . 


Tin- 


'         1     > 

i  1 C  cl  i  ,     i  i  *  , 


Cs  J  \'','r-~i 


i    K.   I   L        1    L         i 


I  ozenge- 


So  f^ir  from  beinQ^  a 


»» 5 


scr:')U:^no<-^  i  jreipfn  to  liw  natore."^     The   M 


( 


.  V  L.    •.     I 


i   '-  '      ■'■' 

the  d'-\  i!  u )  M 

I  , .  a.- . ;      <  .•  1      L 

a- -a it  who  :.cr 
tioj  lo-caiLO  Ci 

T    P^  't  (  r  ■      ■ )     V,  n  • 
t  »"""!  •■  a  '  -:  T^  1  '  '  '1 


t    ; 


Lourt  ui    \  cr~ 

ilil  sell  his  soul   to 
"  3 


ioii^lisli    n':)blemcn    laul    .ui 

!a->  ao.(,::-f-sts  at 


la,  -a  a 


'  a  ' 


a  aa  ,  accent  was  one 


-ping  T.nndnn 


\\  ■ 


n"i 


>       i«  a  rM 


1  Aaamgton, 

ua.i  c!o--nioathed.  Louis 
XI  \,  \'.\i~,  aot  i^a'-iaiai  01  tiuor  political  rela- 
taja^,  and  tiius  si-'d''  mT  tao'ai    ai   an   autograph 

ion    for 


(     ',- 


i  Ui.:^:::;^ 


■) 


Idnd; 


aa^Mu  for  Arlington  his 


1  Rtlatmi  d: Afigleterre.  MS.  BibL  Nat.,  Fonds  Colbert,  478. 

2  Ruvigny  a  Pomponne.     MS.  4^  Etr.^  Angleterre,  tome 
cxvii.  fbl.  ^ "    X    V.  4,  I  .;  ^. 

2  I,     R'-^i  k  Colbert  de  Croi?'=y.     Ibid.,  tome  xciii.  fol. 

i^j.  N  ...  7.  166S. 


ENGLAND  AND    THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIV.   33 


master,  tr^'  to  make  you  believe  they  can  soon 
bring  about  a  close  union  between  me  and  the 

;:^  o!    aaicdand,  provided  ^-o:}   aha,   aa,^^  tioar 


1  V 


i  I.  I  i  \ 


O 


longer 


Chancellor 


1    from    t'xile.       Aidaigtoa    does   not   act 


luVvaiaa^   me   la   a   wa 
arait:ra.;;aa;<-     kA      iais     niikience. 
aadxe    both    one    ;.uaa. 


ke   nic   desire  liie 


\ 


na 


in- 


00  a 


1     t  i 


to 


aic  re- 


aai^      f  die  said  Chanceiita    possible,  and  even 

oiwiiaa!'.',  a'  1  -ai^o.^ri  iOia.  li  dicv  enrare  to 
t  lioLL  lie  union  between  me  and  their  kinq-, 
\(M\  caai  ^'ive  all  da.*  ^areties  thev  ask,  daa,  i 
wdl  make  use  ot  .an  maaas  they  suggest  to 
block  rvor\'  road  b\'  wldcli  (dLirtoidon  can  c^n 
back.  La  i  see  very  well  thai  1  shall  make 
no  real  progress  so  lon^  as  I  h.avo  not  gained 
the  Duke  and  Arlington  by  forwarding  their 
separate  interests.  If  aach  has  a  strong  motive 
lielping  iiic,  i;a  \    wid   both,   however   ihcy 


i  'J 


!]ai\  detest  each  other,  plot  for  a  common  ob- 
ject. Hints  nay  be  held  out  to  Leyton  and 
Williamson,  that  they  are  to  receive  some 
gifts  from  me,  I  prefer  thai  ii  should  be  in 
money.  When  ihey  have  received  payment 
of  tld^  kind.  T  shall  \\\  a  deo^ree  have  the  ad- 
vantage   of   them ;    and   it   seems   to   me,  that 

D 


34 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


ENGLAND  AND    THE  POLICY  OE  LOUIS  XIV.   35 


1  r\ '  1 


I. 
th 

1 

1.. 

4I, 


ihey  are  thus  in  my  power,  you  can 
dancr^T  use  plain  speech  w'tli  tli-  m 
:;:  i:ii\\  \.  ...a  ..nis  should  be  offered  10 
tv-o  agents,  a^  well  as  tn  the  Duke  and  1) 
i  Ainii^t  n.  The  affair  is  so  iiiiportant 
I  a:n  wiiiing  to  make  any  sacrifice  of 
money,  provided  that  payment  c»i  the  crross 
amount  is  stayed,  until  after  the  blow  is  struck." 
Leyton  did  not  stand  out  for  a  hio-h  price. 
He  was  bou^^i  lor  four  hundred  pistoles. 
"R'it,"said  Louis  in  another  autograph  letter,^ 
*' do  iiui  >in.)  ,a  i...x^  a  more  is  wanted. 
Seeing  how  irresolute  the  Kine  of  Kneland 
is,  do  not  neglect  to  gain  Arlington.  T  would 
willingly  spend  on  him  twenty  thousand  gold 
pieces.  1  uu  must  take  care  not  to  frighten 
the  king  by  letting  him  feel  that  I  am  seeking 
to  draw  him  into  a  war  with  Holland." 

Williamson  -  remained  incorruptible.  Ley- 
ton,  on  tli^^  contrary,  came  to  France  ta^  pay 
hi^  c-.L  u.  L  .a...  "I  have  treated  him 
(rdgale)  tn  a  ring  wortli  four  hundred  pistoles,"^ 

1  MS.  Aff.  Etr.,  Angleterre,  Le  Rot  a   Colbert,  Nov.  24 
166S. 

-  Letter  of  Nov.  28,  1668. 

^  Le  Roi  Lv   C  Ibert,  Dec.  12,  1668.     This  was  an  extra 
present. 


wrote  that  sovereign,  *' and  admitted  him  to 
converse  twice  with  me."  Some  months  later 
he  was  granted  a  French  pension  of  three 
hundred  jacobus  and  the  promise  of  a  hand- 
some present.  ''  We  know,"  remarked  the 
French  ambassador  m  a  despatch  to  Lionne, 
"what  a  knave  he  is.^  Nevertheless,  he  is 
active,  pushing,  and  intriguing  :  and  as  he  has 
the  ear  of  the  king,  rubs  shoulders  with  the 
highest  men  at  Court,  and  is  a  leading  member 
of  the  Merchant  Taylors'  Company  and  of  the 
Corporation  of  the  City  of  London,  I  believe 
he  can  keep  us  well  informed."  So  his  Most 
Christian  Majesty  went  on  granting  him  au- 
diences and  treating  him  as  a  person  of  rare 
distinction. 

Louis  did  not  wholly  trust  to  the  tw^o  great 
members  of  the  Cabal.  He  worked  many 
other  secret  springs  with  which  Charles  was 
surrounded.  He  had  notoriously  with  him 
the  famous  Samuel  Morland,  and  found  an 
agent  in  every  Frenchman  settled  in  London. 

Lionne  was  instructed  by  Colbert  de  Croissy 
never  to  mention  Morland's  name,  but  to  speak 

1  Leitre  ihi  27  Mars,  1669,  tome  xciv.,  fol.  287. 

2  Lettre  du  25  Fev.,  1669,  ibid,,  tome  xciv. 


36 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


' 


c:    him   as    ''our  secret  manawr."  ^      Morland 
was  a  scholar  and  scientist,  who  ruined  himself 
m    ir\-incr  i^>   wori:   ;n^    ::;\    niions,  and  Uicii  re- 
sorted   [.)   iVaudulent  expedient   lo  get  out  of 
trouble.      Uiie  of  liis  inventions  was  the  parent 
t  f  ihe  steam  engine.     He  constructed  m  Iraulic 
wheels,  curious]}/  combined.      When   secretary 
b     rhurlow,  the  chief  minister  ^a   Lruiiuvell  he 
got  hold  of  ^late  secrets,  and  with  so  much  art 
and  secresy  delivered    them    to    the    banished 
Stuarts,  that  the  Englishmen  who  shared  their 
exile  were  astounded   when  he  was  one  of  the 
first    to    present  himself  to   Charles  II.  on  his 
restoration,  and   to  be   knighted   by  him.      He 
was    overwhelmed    with    places    and    pensions, 
an<l  being  unable  to  ask  for  more  at  Whitehall, 
he    intrigued    for  the    King  of  France.       His 
wife,   Susan    de   Milleville,   was    French.       He 
sold    his    pensions    and    privileges    to    build    a 
chateau  in  France,  and   the   chateau  to  pursue 
ins  scientific  and  industrial  experiments.    When 
a   widower,   and  ruined,   he   was    harassed    by 
creditors.     An  adventure  then  befell  him  more 
incredible  than  any  that  was  ever   invented  by 

1  Lionnea  Colbert,  26  Aofii,  1668,  tome  xciii.,  fol.  94. 


ENGLAND  AND    THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIV.  37 


an  author  of  the  romances  of  his  day.^  A  man 
whom  in  the  heyday  of  prosperity  he  had 
saved  from  hunger  came  10  propose  to  him  a 
marriage  which  would  relieve  him  from  his 
embarrassments.  *'  A  lady,  virtuous,  pious,  of 
an  amiable  disposition,  having  an  estate  of 
^500  a  year,  /'4,ooo  in  gold,  and  furniture, 
plate,  and  jewels,"  was  prepared  to  take  him 
for  her  husband.  -  He  married  her,  and  a 
fortnight  later  discovered  that  she  had  not  a 
shilling,  was  a  coachman's  daughter,  and  would 
in  a  few  months  give  the  king  another  subject. 
Morland  brought  a  suit  in  the  Ecclesiastical 
Court  to  set  aside  the  marriage,  but  lost  it. 
His  creditors  pursuing  him,  he  did  not  dare  to 
quit  the  lodging  where  he  was  hiding.  On  the 
advice  of  a  Nonconformist  minister,  he  was  eoinor 
to  be  reconciled  to  his  wife,  when  he  heard 
that  during  the  suit  she  lived  with  Sir  Gilbert 
Gerrard.  So  he  attacked  her  for  adultery,  ob- 
tained a  divorce,  and  married  a  third  time.^ 

1  See  Defoe's  A/o/l  of  Flanders  and  Smollett's  Roderick 
Random.  There  are  letters  of  Morland,  in  his  Appendix 
to  Pepys'  Diary. 

2  A  quay  in  Paris  is  still  called  after  Morland,  in  whose 
fertile  brain  the  idea  first  originated  of  raising  water  to  the 
royal  gardens  at  Marly  by  means  of  the  great  hydraulic 
wheel  on  the  Seine. 


n 


38 


LOUISE  DE   KEROUALLE. 


Real    life    was    reflected    in    the    plays    and 
novels     which    show    that    in    Tiigland,    under 
the   reign   of  Charles    II.,    depravitv   was   uni- 
versal.     It  is  only  just  to  condemn  the  profli- 
gacy of  the  Court,  but  It  would  be  ridiculous 
to  ignore  it.      Indeed,  lu  understand  the  history 
of  European  politics  in  the  second  half  <A   the 
seventeenth  centur\,  ic  is   necessarx    lo  discard 
all  prudery,  and   to   unveil  the  private  lives  of 
Charles  and  his  courtiers.     These  dishonoured 
dead  will  teach    no  useful  lesson  if  we  do  not 
study  the  vices  and  the  passions  to  which  they 
were    the    slaves   when   living.       ii   !:>    vv-a   ihe 
business  of  the  historian  to  *!voke  unsubstantial 
phantom:^   un   a  fancifully-decorated   stage,  b  it 
h-j    raise    bodies    from    the    grave,    ni  i-    •  them 
acfain    t!v-    temples    ^i    the    souls    vv;i:.!i    iiave 
iii,>\v;i   ir^rn   them,  \^:v:^:.   trit-in    in    the  surround- 
Hi-s    in    which    they    lived,   and    a n  dyse  their 
hidden  ni  jtives,  good,  bad,  an  i  indilierent. 


\- 


•  (     ! 


The  FrencV 

men     i  n  t  <.  ^ ;  ^ .  '.,.,■  i  > ,    c  •  -  n  l  1 «.  i :~)  1. 1  ^  vi 
Nctable  aiin^nn"  th 


V,- 


*  V     i    t    1    1 


9 


(    i  1 


Lil:3uIiCll'Ju,      \\a^ 


-Iv"'    prnnr'pfi-   nf 

the    English. 
at    I  \  remont,   a 

\\.x'l    laaiaiLu    ihe 


cil 


(a 


th'-  .ar'-ai    I'wnde,  and  wia.)  is 
bcred  a^  <:ii\  eleernai  writer  and 


ENGLAND  AND    THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIV,   39 


an  epicurean  wit.  He  was  disgraced  after  the 
battle  of  the  Pyrenees,  and  retired  to  London, 
where  his  tact,  the  dignity  of  his  life,  and  the 
charm  of  Iii^  mind  and  conversation  assured 
him  an  important  place.  He  devoted  all  his 
advantages  to  the  consolidation  of  the  French 
alliance,  and  lo  the  procuring  of  valuable  in- 
formation for  the  ambassadors  of  Louis  XL/. 
His  company  was  sought  for  by  men  ui  in- 
tellect, birtla.  md  position.^  The  venerable 
Marquis  de  Rouvigny,  father- indaw  of  Lord 
William  Russell,  and  head  of  the  Lrench 
Protestants  in  England,  passed  several  months 
in  London  every  year,  and  was  universally 
respected.  Louis  XL/.,  observing  the  esteem 
in  which  he  was  held,  eventually  utilized  him 
in  his  diplomacy.  The  most  nois}  nf  these 
Frpuchmeu,  aPi  1,  thanks  to  the  chef  d'ceicvre 
ot  Hamilton,  the  most  celebrated,  was  the 
Chevalier  da  *  aamont. 

i  11'  1  rencli  ui  London  were  nearly  all  con- 
nected wail  iJa-  Cuaia.  The  few  tradespeople 
had  also  .1  pecial  aifluence,  by  which  1.  a*s 
knew  hfav  a.  ^  nrofit.     A  Paris  riilHner,^  Madame 


^  Saint  Simon.     Evelyn. 

2  Evelyn:  Diary ^  March  a  a^j 


•SBSS^ssss: 


40 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


Desborde,  oroverned  Oueen  Catherine.  She 
decided  with  sovereign  authority  in  all  that 
related  to  petticoats,  smocks,  laces,  stomachers, 
fans,  frills,  furbelows,  and  other  French  baga- 
telles for  ladies'  wear.  The  wine  merchant  to 
the  kinor  was  a  M  de  Pontac,^  of  Chateau 
Pontac  and  Chateau  O'Brien,  in  the  Gironde, 
a  Gascon  whose  high  spirits  and  voluble  tongue 
amused  the  silent  Encrlish,  while  the  wine  de- 
canter,  at  after-dinner  bouts,  was  being  passed 
round  the  table. 

But  these  diplomatic  threads,  which  were 
woven  into  a  web  by  such  a  powerful  will, 
rotted  as  time  flew  on.  Charles  was  always 
promising  to  join  with  France  against  Kurope, 
and  was  always  ready  to  join  with  Holland 
against  France.  Every  month  that  sped  weak- 
ened the  secret  springs  which  Louis  directed, 
and  new  combinations  had  to  be  resorted  to. 
In  tlie  first  nine  years  of  his  reign  Charles  II. 
had  twice  abandoned  Louis  Xi\  }  There  was 
nothing  in  the  situation  of  England  to  impose 
r  11  him  a  French  alliance.       On  the  contrary, 

1   Evelyn:  Diary,  July  13,  16S3. 

-  See    MiGNON :    Nc^ociatious   relatives  ct   la   Succession 
(TEspagne ;  and  Camille  Rousset  :  Elistoire  de  Louvois. 


% 


ENGLAND  AND    THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIV.   41 


the  interests  of  his  people  and  a  care  for  his 
popularity  should  have  made  him  resist  Louis's 
attempts  to  seize  on  the  mouths  of  the  Scheldt 
and  Rhine.  His  chancrinof  humour  and  his 
duty  both  drew  him  from  the  French  king, 
who,  to  soften  the  animosity  of  the  English 
and  give  a  sop  to  their  traders,  devised  a  sham 
treaty  which  would  lead  them  to  hope  /or  many 
commercial  advantages.  Colbert  de  Croissy, 
the  Intendant  of  Paris,  was  charged,  in  July, 
1668,  to  negotiate  this  instrument,  the  basis  of 
which  was  drawn  up  in  the  king's  handwriting. 
*'  The  negotiations  confided  to  you  are  the 
most  important  of  all  Europe,"^  said  the  minis- 
ter Colbert,  in  a  memorandum  addressed  to 
his  brother  the  ambassador.^  ''  The  treaty  of 
commerce  is  only  to  throw  dust  in  the  eyes 
of  the  trading  class  in  England  ;  and  you  are 
to  make  it  drag  under  all  the  pretexts  which 

^  MS.  Affaires  Eirangeres,  14  Septembre,  1668. 

2  From  October  i,  1668,  the  French  who  went  to  Eng- 
land affected  a  deep  interest  in  horse-racing,  and  were  re- 
ported to  know  nothing  about  it.  The  brilliant  de  Gramont 
had  10  eye  for  a  good  horse,  if  w^e  can  believe  Algernon 
Sydney.  "  He's  such  a  proud  ass  that  he  neither  knows 
what's  good  and  won't  believe  any  one  else."  See,  also, 
Algernon  Sydney's  letters  to  Henry  Saville. 


N> 


42 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


I' 


may  suggest  themselves  to  you.  It  should 
also  afford  you  pretexts  and  occasions  to 
strengthen  political  ties,  and  widen  your  rela- 
tions with  political  men."  When  Charles  II 
went  to  Newmarket,  Lionne  wrote  to  Colbert 
de  Croissy  :  ^  ''  Were  I  m  yotir  place,  I  shotdd 
also  set  Old  in  Izoo  or  three  days?  so  as  to  have 
an  excuse  'for  settling  all  when  you  come 
back ; '  but  I  should  never  go  away,  finding 
always  some  pretext  for  staying,  such  as  a  cold 
or  an  attack  of  illness  in  the  house." 

After  long  searching  for  an  ao-ent  who  mio-ht 
be  able  to  hold  the  volatile  Charles,  Louis,  in 
1668,  at  length  thought  he  had  found  the  man 
he  wanted.  It  .vas  at  the  time  that  Charles 
usually  went  t  Xewmarket.  The  King  of 
France  noticed  this  passage  in  one  of  his 
ambassador's  gossipping  letters  :  ''  The  ^^\x\g  of 
England,  who  is  so  inconstant  in  most  things, 
shows  in  one  respect  fixity  of  application. 
Come  what  may,  he  spends  daily  a  part  of  his 

^  Lionne  ct  Colbert,  23  Fcvrier,  1669. 

2  The  italics  are  in  the  original.  As  the  secretaries  of 
Louis  Quatorze  were  clear  in  their  instructions,  and  assumed 
intelligent  attention  on  the  part  of  their  agents,  they  only 
underlined  when  there  was  not  time  for  the  latter  to  give 
mature  consideration  to  despatches.     ( Translator's  Note.) 


ENGLAND  AND    THE  POLICY   OF  LOUIS  XJV.   43 


I 


if 


1. 


time  in  a  laboratory  making  chemical  experi- 
ments." Since  the  attempt  to  govern  him 
through  Madam  Castlemaine  had  not  sue- 
ceeded,  why  not  try  to  manage  him  through 
the  laboratory  for  which  he  clearly  had  a 
passion  ?  At  this  juncture  Louis  had  at  his 
call  an  Italian  monk,  named  Pregnani,  who 
dazzled  the  Electress  of  Bavaria  with  his  know- 
ledge of  judicial  astrology.  After  taking  him 
from  his  convent  she  recommended  him  to  the 
King  of  France,  whom  she  asked  to  get  him 
made  an  abbe.^  ''  He  understands,"  wrote  her 
Serene  Highness,  **  how  to  blow  a  bellows  and 
use  crucibles  according  to  the  rules  of  alchemy, 
has  infinite  cleverness,  marvellous  suppleness 
and  dexterity  in  attaining  his  ends."  But  how 
brine  Preenani  into  the  Court  circle  without 
exciting  suspicion?  The  vehicle  chosen  was  the 
Duke  of  Monmouth,  the  eldest  of  the  King's 
bastards,  who  was  weak-minded  and  credulous, 
and  the  best-beloved  son  of  his  Royal  sire.  At 
a  supper  where  he  met  different  members  of  the 
French  embassy,  his  curiosity  was  adroitly  ex- 
cited by  tales  of  the  wonderful  transmutations 
Pregnani    could    operate,    and    the    horoscopes 

1  Lionne  d.  Colbert,  23  Fevrier,  1669. 


f 
I  ' 


44 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


ENGLAND  AND    THE  POLICY  OF  LOUIS  XIV.  4: 


\\ 


.he  cast.      Monmouth  secretly  wished  to  know 
whether  the  heavenly  bodies  favoured  his  pre- 
tensions to  the  Crown  of  Endand.     He  invited 
Pregnani  to  London.    The  abbe  hastened  there. 
He  went  at  night  to  see  Colbert  de  Croissy;  for 
Louis  XIV.,  whose  sense  of  what  he  owed  to 
the  dignity  of  the  crown  he  wore  never  failed 
him,  in  the  midst  of  the  lowest  intrieues,  was 
half-ashamed  to  be  in  any  degree  represented 
by  a  charlatan,  and  wished  the  mission  to  re- 
main secret.      The  abbe   Pregnani  followed  the 
Court  to  Newmarket.^     The  means  which   he 
made  use  of  to  arouse  the  interest  of  the  kino- 
and  fix  his   attention,   were   very  droll.       The 
Duke  of  Monmouth  beinor  in  love  with  a  o\x\  of 
some  beauty,  to  whom  he  thought  the  kino-   his 
father,  and  his  uncle,  the   Duke  of  York,  were 
both  making  advances,  had  the  curiosity  to  ask 
the  abbe  which  of  the  three  would  obtain  her 
the  first.      The  soothsayer,  without  havino-  seen 
her,  described    her  face,   her   humour   and  in- 
clinations,   and    said    what    her   past    was   and 
V  h  -  her  future  would  be.     He  was  so  circum- 
stantial   that    the    king    was    informed    of   the 
matter  by  the  duke,   and  wished  to  have  his 

1   Colbert  a  Lionne,  iS  Af a rs,  1669. 


'P 


I 


\ 


own  horoscope  drawn.  The  abbe  was  com- 
manded to  meet  the  king's  desire  by  fetching 
his  astrological  books  to  Newmarket.  '*  Such, 
Monsieur,  is  the  beginning  of  the  business.  If 
it  ends  well,  I  shall  apprise  you  ;  and  I  believe 
I  shall  have  queer  things  to  tell  you  of  before 
lono^." 

The  cunning  Italian  ^  was  able,  without  re- 
ferring to  his  books,  to  read  the  disposition  of 
Charles ;  but  he  was  careful  to  hide  his  game, 
and  took  nobody,  unless  Colbert  de  Croissy, 
into  his  confidence. 

"He  (the  abbe)  does  not  think  much  of  the 
King  of  England's  mind,  which  he  says  is 
prone  to  busy  itself  with  amusing  trifles,  to 
the  exclusion  of  what  is  serious.  He  has  an 
unconquerable  aversion  to  sustained  effort,  and 
recoils  from  every  sort  of  business.  The  abbe, 
however,  hopes  that  he  will  be  able  to  over- 
come his  taste  for  mental  trifling  and  to  brine 
him  to  take  a  good  resolution  by  forecasting  in 
his  horoscope  impending  disasters.  I  wish  I 
could  be  confident  on  this  point,  because  the 
king  said  to  me,  on  arriving  from  Newmarket, 
that   the    abbe's    predictions   about   the    races 

^  Colbert  a  Lionne^  i  Avj'il,  1669. 


il 


'0 


46 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


fij 


fhere  were  wrong  in  every  single  case ;  and 
that  his  errors  had  caused  great  loss  to  the 
P  ike  of  -  1  ninouth's  servants,  who  re<iulated 
their  bets  according  to  his  forecasts.  Certain 
gain  had  been  ■  romised  t^  them  all.  The 
King  of  England  has  since  puzzled  the  abbe 
about  his  misleading  prognostics  ;  but  as  his 
majesty's  curiosity  is  great,  perhaps  he  will 
resort  in  private  to  what  he  affects  to  laugh 
at  in  public/' 

This  unfortunate  application  of  sorcery  to 
horse-racing  caused  the  disgrace  of  the  pre- 
sumptuous abbe  at  Versailles.  Lionne  some 
days  later  wrote  :  ^  ''As  to  the  Pregnani,  since 
he  has  been  unable  to  gain  ground  with  the 
king  by  his  astrology  and  chemical  tricks,  it 
is  not  probable  that  he  can  be  of  future  use  to 
us.  Take  means  to  send  him  back  to  France, 
where  we  can  have  him  under  finofer  and 
thumb.  To  prevent  him  refusing  to  leave 
England,  where  he  might  get  in  our  way, 
affect  to  send  him  with  a  confidential  message 
to  \''ersailles.'' 

1  Lioniie  a  Colbert  de  Croissy,  4  Mai,  1669. 


CHAPTER    II. 


MADAME    HENRIETTE. 


The  Duke  of  Buckingham  alone  suspected 
that  an  intrigue  was  hidden  beneath  the  as- 
trologer's predictions.  But  he  was  far  from 
supposing  that  Louis  XIV.,  Colbert,  and 
Lionne  were  mixed  up  with  a  low  cunning 
charlatan.  What  he  thought  was,  that  Hen- 
rietta, or  Henriette,  Duchess  of  Orleans,  was 
afraid  her  hold  on  Charles  might  relax  because 
of  her  enforced  absence  from  England,  and 
sought  to  maintain  it  by  the  agency  of  the 
Italian  priest.  As  Buckingham  set  up  to  be 
her  lover,  and  to  govern  the  king  vicariously 
for  her,  he  was  angry  at  the  fancied  substi- 
tution for  him  of  the  abbe.  "  She  sends,"  he 
complained  to  Leyton,^  ''  a  humbugging  as- 
trologer, who  flatters  himself  that  I  am  his 
dupe  in  love  and  politics,  and  who  makes  me  a 

1  Colbert's  despatch  to  Louis  XIV.  on  March  14,  1669, 
giving  an  account  of  a  conversation  with  Leyton. 

47 


► 


I 


n 


i: 


48 


LOUISE   DE  KEROUALLE. 


lauo^hinof-stock  for  Monmouth  and  Hamilton." 

'lie  '>\\^o^-^.-:^  iC\  uif^  furv."  added  Colbert  de 
Cruissy,  '' u\  d  to  enter;  ismg  gallant,  who 
i^  \  iX'jd  .a  nndinc^  himself  an  object  ui  mirth. 
Pcrliaj.. ■.  VAy;  U:>i  uunor  i^  u"  would  be  to 
send  ov^T  M:iaanv.:^  hrTself,  Lo  keep  alive  her 
Ln)ther.-,  tenderness,  and  heal  the  wounded 
v:init\-  *f  Buckingham  which  may  breed  hatred 
\v.  jiL  i  JVC  wa:^,  1  he  ambassador  knew  that 
tk-  Fn  :■  kli  Court  kad  been  reflectinor  r  -] 
the  (xi'udiencv  it  brino^inor  the  influence  of 
Madam  i  k  inette  to  bear  upon  her  brother. 
tmi  :  'I  ih  1  rmichmen  \\ho  was  most  often 
ill  t :-:  u  um  (A  1  iiarles,  the  Marquis  de  Flam- 
in  runs,  some  mnntks  previously  had  spoken 
L  about  charging  the  Duchess  of 
mh  a  mission  to  Fno-land.^ 
1  kan  iette,  youngest  sister  of  Charles 
W-  an"!  mif:  af  tk  French  king's  only  brother, 
had  tia.  Lk^iiaaing  liveliness  of  her  grandfather. 


1  : 


to    Coi 

ijrkmns 


^  i  ra'  king's  brother  was,  at  the  Court  of  Versailles, 
give::  a.e  ti:le  of  '•  Monsieur,"  without  any  other  qualifica- 
tion. V.  i.cn  he  was  spoken  of  or  spo^cen  to.  His  wife  was 
"  Madame."  She  was  sometimes  familiarly  called  Madame 
H  nriette,  to  distinguish  her  from  the  widow  of  Gaston, 
Due  d'Orleans,  her  aunt-in-law.     {Translator's  Note.) 

-  ATS.  Aff.  Ltr.  Angleterrej  vol.  xciii.,  fol.  174. 


1: 

At 

%i 

if 
If 


MADAME  HENRIETTE. 


49 


Henri  IV.  She  was  slender,  white-skinned, 
and  delicate  and  small.  The  two  kings  \\«  re 
equally  fond  of  ;ier.  But  hrr  influonca  with 
Lvjih  \v.a>  the  cause  ui  bitter  aak  violent 
jealousies,  and  her  intervention  woa!  1  akv  be 
11  _*  patent  so  a^  perhap-  ij  defeat  its  object. 
Apart  from  the  suspicions  q\  Buckingham  v'lio 
kept  Henriette  informed,  tlir  a  ai  \\a  confidant 
Leyton,^  with  what  went  on  ai  iinglan  !,  there 
wab  Ladv  Castlemaine  lu  be  hainaared.  That 
self-willed  beauty  hated  H  reign  meddlers." 
*'  The  Countess  of  Castlemaine,"  wrote  Colbert 


de  Croissy  to  Louis,  *M  a  given  me  in  my 
v/if^'s  presence  a  piece  of  her  mind  on  many 
subjects,  into  which  I  propose  to  go  for  your 
Majesty's  information.  This  lady  having  said 
that  she  had  had  a  letter  from  Madame,  who 
advised  her  strongly  to  make  up  her  quarrel 
with  Buckingham,  and  that  she  was  puzzled 
to  think  why  Madame  was  so  anxious  for  a 
reconciliation,  my  wife  observed  that  union 
with  France  depended  on  the  agreement  of 
all  the  favourites-  with  each  other."  ^    . 

^  Colbert  to  Lionne,  relating  conversations  with  Le}  ton, 
Feb.  13  and  March  9,  1669. 
^  Despatch  of  Colbert  to  Lionne,  May  13,  1669. 

E 


If 


■J 


i* 


50 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


MADAME  HENRIETTE, 


51 


r  T 


:iivl  did   n^-'",  .1 
to  France,  dai 


it"i.ift)!'»l  \\'~i 


U>sUuii 


n  '■)  .  ' 


an^er  a 


r  nice,  Buckingham  and  Lady 
each  their  cares  and  troubles, 
:     !  r^c^naiM  was  shipped  bark 
10  show   uiemselves  exacting. 
dominated    by  the  C<  iintess 
\vu:naii  ut   .1  \iolent  temper, 
who  had  j     t  got  into  a  dangerous  scrape. 

"Tnfr-itpd  ao-ain.st  Killeo:rew/'  writes  Col- 
1  It  .:r  Lroissy/  ''because  he  boasted  that 
Iciiied  him  iiu  favour,  she  nursed  her 
, -:  :  ii:;:i  until  she  could  wreak  ven- 
ce.  She  wa^  al>k^  to  do  this  yesterday. 
KiUr  few  laa  arranged  to  visit  her  at  her 
house,  which  is  six  miles  from  London.  He 
went  alone  \\\  ^  coach,  and  on  the  way  fell 
asleep.  He  was  awoke  bv  the  thrust  of  a 
sword  which  pierced  his  neck,  and  came  out 
ii  tae  shoulder.  Before  he  could  cry  out,  he 
waa  fluno-  ir  a  the  vehicle,  and  stabbed  in 
tai  <  :!a  r  places  by  varlets  of  the  Countess. 
The  ii  a  herself  looked  on  iroiu  her  own 
cvM  a  and  ^\\,  a  which  she  was  with  her  three 
dauo-jn  •!--  and  cried  out  to  the  assassins  to 
'kill  la  J  \  aat  a.  Xor  did  she  drive  off  unti^ 
a  va,  uiought  dead.  He  was  but  badly 
1  Colbert  to  Lionne,  AUy  20,  1669. 


uuunded,  and  has  sworn  informations.  You 
may  fancy  the  noise  the  attempt  to  murder 
him  causes,  and  the  worry  and  anxiety  of  the 
Duke  of  Buckingham,  who  is  still  passionately 
in  love  with  this  virago,  whose  husband  he 
killed  in  a  duel  for  having  resisted  her  brow- 
beatings." 

As  to  Lady  Castlemaine,  she  was  not  in  such 
a  humour  as  the  French  ambassador,  to  laueh 
at  the  *' buffooneries "  of  Nell  Gwynn,^  or  at 
the  pleasure  the  king  took  in  them.  The 
orange  girl  had  the  charm  of  novelty  ;  and  if 
her  tongue  was  coarse,  her  wit  was  elancin<>- 
and  her  laughter  was  gay  and  stimulating  to 
the  over- raked  Charles.  He  could  not  help 
yawning  when  he  was  with  Lady  Castlemaine  ; 
but  his  spirits  rose  in  the  company  of  the 
jocular  NelL 

Charles  suddenly  made  up  his  mind  to  have 
an  interview  with  his  sister.  He  told  Colbert 
de  Croissy^  that  he  passionately  desired  to  see 
and  converse  with  her.  ''  I  was  greatly  sur- 
prised," adds  the  ambassador,  ''at  the  intima- 
tion and  I   lose  no  time  in  sending  you  an  ex 

^  Colbert  to  Lionne,  Nov.  17,  1669,  and  Jan.  26     670. 
2  Colbert  to  Louis  XIV.,  Jan.  2,  1670. 


52 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


press  to  say  tliit  this  is  a  case,  if  ever  there  was 
one,  in  which  the  iron  should  be  hammered  while 
it  is  hot."  The  conditions  which  the  King  of 
England  hoped  by  his  sister  s  advocacy  to  bring 
Louis  to  ad'  pt  show  more  greed  for  money 
than  '^tatescraft.     They  were  as  follows  : — 

"  i  he  leao^ue  between  the  Kine  of  Great 
Britain  and  the  Most  Christian  Kine,  shall  be 
so  durable  that  nothing  in  the  world  shall 
henceforth  divide  the^ir  majesties.  The  King 
of  Great  Britain  being  convinced  of  the  truth 
of  the  Catholic  religion,  and  resolved  to  declare 
himself  ci  Catholic,  and  to  be  reconciled  to  the 
Church  of  Rome,  believes  that,  for  the  fulfil- 
ment of  this  design,  the  aid  of  the  Most 
Christian   Kinor  will  be  needed."^ 

This  was  written  in  1669,  more  than  fifteen 
years  previous  to  the  death  of  Charles  II.  ; 
and  during  these  fifteen  years  a  prince  so  con- 
vinced and  resolved  simulated  the  Protestant 
faith,  remained  the  protector  of  the  Episcopal 
Anglican  Church,  took  part  in  its  services  and 
ceremonies,  and  went  on  appointing  bishops. 

Charles  also  agreed  to  connive  at  the  seiz- 
ure  i  y   i.     .:-   XI\\   of  any  countries  which  it 

'   MS.  Aff.  Etr.  Angkterre,  tome  xcv.,  fol.  235. 


MADAME   HENRIETTE. 


53 


might  suit  him  to  annex  to  his  monarchy, 
whether  to  the  detriment  of  Spain  or  the 
United  Provinces.  But,  in  return,  Louis  en- 
gaged to  pay  him  ;^200,ooo  sterling,  plus  the 
cost  of  any  English  troops  engaged  in  helping 
him.  This  cost  was  to  be  rated  at  a  minimum 
of  ;^3  16^.  a  day  per  soldier,  and  ^800,000  a 
month  while  the  campaign  lasted.  The  King 
of  France  was  to  cede  to  England,  out  of  the 
common  conquests,  the  Isle  -^f  Minorca  ;ind 
the  port  of  Ostend,  and  all  the  countries  and 
strongholds  in  America  under  Spanish  rule. 
The  king's  nephew,  the  Prince  ui  Orange,  was 
to  receive  compensation  for  his  losses,  but  in 
what  form  was  not  stipulated.  As  the  Senate 
and  Republic  of  Hamburg  were  bound  by  ties 
of  interest  with  the  United  Provinces,  war  was 
to  be  declared  on  them." 

These  crude  and  incoherent  proposals  came 
suddenly  on  Louis,  who  had  been  long  study- 
ing how  to  carry  out  the  well  elaborated 
schemes  of  Mazarin,  by  securing  the  inaction  of 
England.  ''The  most  odious  of  the  clauses," 
observed  Colbert  de  Croissy,^  'Ms  the  one  bind- 
ing us  to  attack   Hamburg,  without  any  given 

^  Colbert  to  the  King  of  France,  Dec.  19,  1669. 


54 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE 


1  1 


1, 


be   tu   loijiir^hu'   bnru    iiuwn    i^ii    cjur 


J<,ll.,  lv^7 


1  lanscatic  cowns  and  l\v'  prin.,N:s  ot  thr  Cirrnicin 
Lnii»irc."  ^ 

It  Wcis  lii^^ii  tiiiic  for  Mauam^^  TTcnri^-tte  to 
cunie  turwarJ  and  nr^<aiatt'.  Siit;  i)c  mh  in' 
wiatiiiL^  to  iiar  liriaiaa''  tiiat  Loui^  XIW  was 
shucked  at  the  demand  to  attack  Handiure. 
\Vuicn  naa  ne\"er  L;'i\'fai  an\'  ontj  caii^-e  \^-a'  cum- 
|daint  ;  and  ^he  naa:^irvi  tiiat  Ariin-ton  ^>h(ju!d 
be  iorceii  to  ]nodii\-  tiU'  ])rc)f.)()-*:d  Ijai^i^  loi'  nc- 
i^otiatien.  Aiain^^e'a  at  iM.ttom  wa^  a  Ix-aiian 
Cauioa^,  ana  wsand  nvjt  hke  Ciiarier.  to  ha\'e 
hag;<^i('d  a!.-)ut  lie-  <nni  of  na«n';\-  th.u  lie  wae^ 
t'j  [)uc!v-i  as  a  is-./;niii:o  ?k,r  i^-'-'m-  (eo:-r  lo 
l^'->:^'n.  ••bile  Knie  rC~  kai^lan  i,"  hf  nouht^d 
t^J  L^ouis,  *■  wnii  uiji  near  oi  th^.'  snni:^  wsuch 
}''^^i"  aiiU's^t}'  a^a*'-!"^  i-  i/i  jnni  ha^'ie  ni  CiCi- 
ssn-r.itien  ui  m^  \::\.:c.\  ^-^  nf"  rr^li-^'ion  brdi>-v  Tiveb^ 
]'^-oai.ae  ill    ihae:,.        I  tiuna,   I  uan,  U  vuia    hai-d 

C>j..  en  uaia.-vi  to  brnig  liiC  Hanse  towiT^  ns  share- 
bolder^  into  hi-,  twi  -reat  organizations  for  establishing  a 
^  '-''^^^  Coiunai  lin;  ;:c;  z'/a.,  the  chartered  Companv  o:  the 
East,  (I  l:,iit  In... I  Company,  and  tiie  chartered  i  uinn-nv 
Ot  the  \vc  n  u:  Anna  un  Company.  \^ rauslators  Note.) 
'  Con  cin  I  ;  i.c  iviii-  of  France,  Jan.  29,  1670. 


MADAME  HENRIETTE. 


55 


^j\\  \n.)nr  Maiesian  nn^ai  tair  niannx*  laaarasnO  an' 
a  cutclaralnai  (>!  CatnoiiCitv  sheuid  Ije  tnua-- 
[Hjfted  at  \(>ur  ^b,l]enty's  expttnse  to  Lnnd^nd' 
Arhn-lDH  si'ems  to  ha\a:  beei^  disintern:sted  tor 
th^  tnnc  and,  idanrt  in  which  hxi  hviab  His 
wife   liad    bfa'Oed    ^bulanie    Celbert  '    "  to   send 


ner    I  oar 


4  ua,  s 


ln>uah    i)l     tile    ilnrst    Y  rm 


ice 


brocatelle  to   make  hasiahias   Ida'  an   ani^  isniai. 
and  covers   ^ov   twelve    chairs  ,    Ijed  curtain^ 


!1 
J  1 


naa.ttai  cSamteav,  ana  covvorno'  <>i  tiu-  ^ame  slim 
Icjr  ti  soUi  a  set  o\  ciiairs  and  lauttonls  in  anotiiiT 
clninibnar  *'  ll  the  i^m;4■  thinks  it  i^r  tie-  '^(n)d 
:icr  lu  rnakn   tins   lirna^^nt,  a   w^njid.   I 


ot 


">  ,n' 


Jtiiiv,\,    iiiai,.!    :.^ti.Li.i\    liU.    nivi  \ .  1  iia    ma*!    tiiaJ 


larnOari:    w^asn    nanl 


.irnn^li.ni    irean?aiu\r    ni    i 


ai  i^  . 


i.aav 


i  ]  1 1  *  n  f  *     1'  'i  I 


coin'se   ni    a   Aov 


niontlon  on^nnni  nj  |ki\-  nu"  them. 

Liiiin'  l.'\'  htta-,  (hHicah,ies  ])e-':in  to  \nmba 
tnuinr  tile  d^ateroas  inanijjnk'aion  ui  abaJana.* 
ITcmriettu.      She    imt    a   vhmf~i    tia: 

\\  i  i  i  V,  1 ,!     1 '  i  L     i  i  1  n,     .1  V  i !  I  a    n>  i     i    J I  a  i .,.  ' 

Li.aail;'.  i      in     Lii*.-     .^iSLia    aiii..     n;;aiau     Caau  iv.' 


)  I    (  "  ■;   K  n   O  i   i 


in      1    L   \ 


^  C^oibert  to  ihe  I\  ma 
Madaia  '  Colbert  wa^^  an 
who  made  a  fortune  in  t 
farthings,  or  /ian/s.    She  \v 

de  1  urny. 


r  i  a  i 


o. 


-  iS  i  n-^  ins, 
rench  hah- 
ani  e^olbert 


'   ii 


56 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


declare  himself  a  I^h 


!  •  ,  ,      Ml 


I  !.    i,  1 .  1   i  i     1  \  '  s. 


a    SI 

com 'J  k:.\^-:\ 
to  r;i-Ml  L 


..p,\il)le   in    \j..,\\^\^'\\.       i'u   over- 
i:.;;i:;i  '-  difticiiilw  the  Duchess  ^'f 


«     ;      i       I      '  *  ■(      .      L        i,      i     ^.    i      i  i      i.     1     ,_ 


■M     !  ;   :  ■  U  ^  ^ 


(    ) 


out    hMT    io:.oan 
ov-  ai  Dover. 

ii  III"!  tt:  had  the  happy  thought, 
ciioo:5iii^  iiic  iiiaids  01  iioiiULir  w iio  were 
atto:o.l  ii^-r  t'>  Dn_:Li::  !.  In  select  Louise  de 
i\-  r^MOaHo.  1l  ii.  iiardiv  probable  that  ^he 
desi    :      ;    ii  creasincr  her     0.0    oowtr     -ver  her 

...  <  •    •  '   y        '  ■    ■  ■    ' 

i  ,M  '   ■  i.  i  i  V...  J.  i  '  1.  i.  1 1  ;  •.  i  i  i  ^._  '.  .    *  I  -  I         i  .  ■     >  .,1110        \   •   "  '.  1  !  .  ^         ^_   ;  i  .!  . 

whose  ba!'\'  i.UM-,  melancholy  eyes,  aiol  ia'!^..,:u:.!. 
walk  did  imi;  indicate  an  aaruii  vHplouoaic 
agent/  15  .1  it  i^,  ^orai:;.  li;  0  Louise  was  pie- 
s-nt  at  tlic  int'~-rv:-\vs  between  Charles  and  his 
ii^ter,  aiiLi  m.ide  a  duep  inipressiun  on  hi  no 
tif'  1    ra    the    furious    tern 


:3 
T  T 


lKO 


'.  J 


r    ^^;     his   \ 
(   i  liomaine,  auu  ui   die  vulgarity  oi  NpI!   ^ 


1  n^ 


conversation 


he     Bret' 


blonde,  \\  iu)  annoar  xL  sad  and  gentle,  ii  i   it  a 


.:    na^,    .1. 


t  wop  t\' 


the  ciairminof  freshness  u! 
the   high  delicate  breeding  which 


'  A  mistake.     -\  languid  manner,  when  not  arising  from 
ill  health,  often  goes  with  falsity,  and  gains  time  for  deliber- 
atioFi.     1  luiiknes?  i<  direct,  and  does  not  loiter.     {Tra?is 
lators  Note.) 


\\ 


I 


i 


MADAME  HENRIETTE, 


57 


distinguished  the  Court  of  Louis  XIV.  before 
I'^rU  monarch's  illegitimate  children  grew  up. 

Whether  to  prolong  the  enioxmeni  ui  ^pend- 
ing quiet  evenings  wii  1  ins  sister,  or  to  keep 
the  preti)  Louise  sunn  tinic  lunger  in  Lngland, 
Charles  insisted  on  Madame   Henriette  delay- 


10; 


ncr    ri 


ince. 


1 


trM.nor 


I 


le 


argued,  is  an  affair  of  the  highest  importance, 
and  should  be  discussed  maturely.  M\-  sub- 
jects hate  the  French.  The  pains  laey  are 
!  -  av  at  to  create  a  great  trade,  and  to  become 
a  maritime  power  will  sharpen  their  jealousy.^ 
The  Kinor  of  France  want  to  hold  all  the 
great  ports  of  the  Cominent,  and  I  ring  under 
his  swa\  I  maritime  people  which  have  been 
tin:  nntin  rivals  of  Fngland  on  sea  atid  m  the 
colonial  trade.  i  must  therefore  be  very  wary, 
and  not  show  xv.x  hand  too  <^onn,  Madame 
Henriette  did  not  easily  obtain  a  prolonged 
leave  of  absence  at  Dover  ^- e  had  a  lius- 
band  whom  she  always  treated  as  an  infe- 
rior  being,  vrliich  his  effeminacy  and  base,  false 
nature  justified  her  in  doinor.  He  was  jealous 
1    in  r,  and  saw  with  umbrage  the   importance 

^  See    Mignet's    Negociations    relatives   a    la    Succession 
d  EsJ'agiie,  tome  iii.,  p.  50. 


5S 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLh. 


MADAME  HENRIETTA. 


j"^  1 1"^  ■  r 


\  I  \ 


;  hn 


1. 1  i  i  V  i 


political    part   she 

\  i  \      V,  h  ^   ^.v:is  at 


lo    cuin:nand  his  brother 
rnnclii'^ion    o^ 


f,-.    fhn    ron rhision     of   ^ 


(  )       T  ^  M 


she    v;;i-    ^'''~^t 
V-nll-y.i.   watchhi 

not   to    be   an    ^  a 

c;^^^,.    ,f|:,;.    ,4    the  greatest  importance.      He 

wrote  I)   Colbert  de  Croissy  :  ^ 

"  I  s-^nd  ynii  this  to  inform  you  that  my 
Lruiacr  ha.  consented  to  let  Madame  remain 
t  n  or  t- -Ue  days  longer  at  buver.  You  can 
exaggerate  to  King  Charles  the  efforts  we 
maC  and  points  we  stretch  to  be  agreeable 
to  ium.  Lci  him  feel  how  much  obliged  he 
should  be  ir^  i:^.  ->  that  when  we  make  de- 
^.^^.^c;   he  V.  C  be  in  :i  humour  to  yield." 

/v  month  later,  Madame  Henriette  died.  It 
w^as  riinioiirpd  tliat  she  was  poisoned.^  1  he 
Court  .1  England  appeared  to  believe  that  she 


was. 


d'H-niatic  web  she  had  helped  to 
weave  Su'.in_  i  ravelled. 

^  The  original  autograph  letter  is  in  the  archives  of  the 
Ministry  for  Foreign  Affairs,  English  section,  vol.  xcvii.,  folio 

_    -.  May  31,  1670. 

2  1  ::re  seemed  to  have  established  that  she  died  a  natu- 
ral death.  He  drew  this  conclusion  from  the  medical  report 
Oh  rr  /v.«r  mortem  examination.  :'  i  air  has,  however, 
taken  up  the  old  theory,  that  her  death  was  caused  by  poison. 


59 


''Must  we  abandon  the  great  affair  t "  asked 
Colbert  de  Croissy  of  Lionne.  "It  is  to  be 
foarrd  ^  that  the  grief  of  the  King  of  England, 
\wi.v,a  .0  deeper  than  can  bu  inia^^^jiicu,  ;.n:..i  the 
malevolent  talk  and  rumours  c  •  t  ;r  enemies, 
uill  spoil  everything." 

The  enemies  of  France  were  not  the  only 
ones  to  attack  her.  Buckincrham  turned  aeainst 
the  French  alliance.  Colbert  de  Croissy 
informed  Lionne  that,  had  it  been  possible, 
Buckingham  would  have  picked  a  quarrel  with 
France,  if  only  to  win  popularity.^ 

Louis  despatched  Marshal  de  Bellefonds  to 
rresent  his  official  condolence  to  Charles  on 
his  sister's  death.  The  Marshal  was  a  very 
fine  gentleman,  had  bland  manners,  and  was 
skilled  in  smoothino^  down  angles. 

''  When  do  they  intend  to  let  the  Chevalier 
de  Lorraine  back  to  Court  .^  "  asked  thn  Kine 
of  lingland,  with  a  rudeness  foreign  to  his 
manners  and  disposition. 

''  I  replied,"  said  the    Marshal,  ''  thai  1    did 

^  Colbert  to  Lionne,  July  2,  1670. 

-  Original  autograph  letter  of  Marshal  Bellefonds  to  the 
King  of  France.  Affr,  Etr.  Angleierre^  tome  xcviii.,  fol.  35, 
du  10  Juillet,  1670. 


i    I 


60 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


MADAME  HENRIETTE. 


61 


I 


!, 


\ 


not  know ;  that  it  was  not  easy  to  divine 
the  thoughts  of  your  Majesty  on  such  a  trifling- 
subject  ;  and  that  none  of  your  servants  would 
take  the  Hberty  of  conversing  about  it,  unless 
your  Majesty  first  broached  the  matter." 

It  was  feared  that  Charles  and  his  Court  had 
slipped  from  the  grasp  of  Louis.  A  last  re- 
source was  to  be  tried.  Louise  de  Keroualle, 
whom  Charles  in  his  interview  with  de  Belle- 
fonds  associated,  with  apparent  tenderness, 
with  the  memory  of  his  sister,  was  packed  off 
in  all  haste  to  Calais,  to  be  at  his  beck  and  call. 
Apprised  of  this  attention,  Charles  sent  a  yacht 
to  take  her  across  to  Dover.  He  wept,  and 
fell  into  a  sentimental  mood  on  meeting  her, 
and  named  her  maid  of  honour  to  his  patient 
wife.  Her  presence  assuaged  his  grief.  Re- 
lations with  France  grew  less  ticklish. 

But  man  walketh  in  a  vain  show,  truly!  In 
the  funeral  oration  in  honour  of  Madame 
Henriette,  Bossuet  said  :  "  The  worthy  link 
which  bound  the  two  greatest  monarchs  of  the 
earth  was  broken,  but  now  is  soldered  up 
ao-ain.^     Their  noble  desires  win  confidence  of 

'  Bossuet  :  Oral  son  Fuiichre  de  Madame. 


their  peoples,  and  virtue  henceforth  shall  be 
the  only  mediator  between  them."  ^ 

It  was  not  hard  to  regain  Buckingham. 
The  French  ambassador  apprised  Lionne  that 
in  obtaining  a  pension  for  the  Countess  of 
Shrewsbury,  he  would  make  the  Duke  his 
obedient  servant.  The  pension  was  fixed  at 
10,000  livres,  and  faithfully  paid.  Colbert  de 
Croissy  was  not  slow  to  perceive  the  spell 
in  which  Louise  de  Keroualle  held  Charles, 
and  the  advantages  to  be  obtained  therefrom. 

**  The  king  is  always  finding  opportunities 
to  talk  with  this  beauty  in  the  queen's  room. 
But  he  has  not,  contrary  to  what  is  reported, 
gone  yet  to  chat  with  her  in  her  own  room,^ 
contrary  to  what  has  been  said  here." 

Lady  Castlemaine  prepared  to  make  war  on 
the  French  charmer.  She  demanded  the  title 
of  Duchess  of  Cleveland,  and  looked  for  sup- 
port to  the  Spanish  faction.^  She  made  believe 
that  she  still  reigned  over  the  king,  by  getting 
royal  favours  heaped  upon  herself.  Her 
patent  of  duchess  was  scarcely  made  out,  when 
she    exacted   for   her   eldest    son    the   title    oi 

^  Colbert  to  Lionne,  August  28  and  Sept.  10,  1670. 
-  Jbid.^  Dec.  15,  1670. 


62 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLF. 


Marquis  of  ^   ,:thampton,  and  for   the  second 
that  ui  Larl  of  f Northumberland. 

in  a  fe  V  \  :ir >."  cried  a  malcontent,  *'  Eng- 
Icin  1  \v:H  be  5u  iM!  \-  a^  to  see  a  House  of 
Peers  extracted  out  of  the  blood  Royal." 

These  rvidences  ff  victory  caused  sh  irner 
rivalry.  Louise  de  Keroualle  began  seriously 
to  stud)  iier  game,  and  to  play  it  with  no  Xvjht 
purpose  at  the  balls  given  in  December,  1670, 
ar  V/hitehall.  "  The  fashion  of  masquerading, 
iiiiroduced  this  winter,"  wrote  Colbert  de 
Croissy,  "  is  a  source  of  great  diversion  to 
persons  of  quality."  The  treaty  of  Madame 
was  defended  by  Louise,  who  had  not  yet  sa- 
crificed honour  to  h^r  country.  On  the  other 
hand,  public  feeling  weighed  on  the  statesmen 
of  t]i  *  Tabal.  The  English  people  had  a  true 
ii,:Di:i._L  -I  their  maritime  future,  and  of  the 
great  hidden  danger  that  faced  it.  They  cried 
out  for  the  king  to  support  Protestant  Holland, 
and  even  Catholic  Spain, ^  against  the  King  of 

^  In  this,  popular  feeling  was  wiser  than  Cromwell,  great 
statesman  though  he  was,  had  shown  himself,  twelve  years 
earlier,  in  allowing  Mazarin  to  circumvent  him  and  to  lead 
him  into  prostrating  the  naval  power  of  Spain,  which,  in  the 
Protector's  time,  had  almost  fallen  into  a  decrepit  state. 
{Translatof^s  Note.) 


MADAME  HENRIETTE. 


63 


France.  It  had  an  uneasy  feeling  that  a  great 
conspiracy  was  being  hatched,  but  was  ignorant 
of  Its  nature.  The  brooding  suspicions  came 
to  a  head,  when  England  got  into  a  state  kji 
frenzy  about  the  Popish  Plot. 

Louise  was  not  sure  of  her  empire,  and 
found  herself  an  object  of  ill-will  to  the  Eng- 
lish. Her  only  chance,  she  saw,  was  in  the 
discomfiture  of  the  Duchess  of  Cleveland,  to 
hriniT  about  which  she  seemed  inclined  to  yield 
to  Charles,  and  yet,  when  pressed  too  closely, 
slipped  away  from  him.  In  the  close  game  of 
the  masquerading  winter,  her  affected  coyness 
was  ill-understood  by  her  ally,  the  French  am- 
bassador, who,  not  venturing  to  believe  in  her 
full  success,  and  fearing  a  return  of  the  vindic- 
tive Duchess  oi  Cleveland,  wrote  to  Louis,  ''  I 
think  it  safe,  while  undermining  that  lady,  to 
keep  her  on  our  side  by  appearing  to  be  with 
her."^ 


^  Colbert  to  the  King  of  France,  Dec.  12,  1670. 


CHAPTER  III. 

ACCESSION  OF  LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 

'  I  NOW  also  saw  that  famous  beauty,  but  in 
my  pinion  of  a  childish  simple  baby  face, 
Ahidemoiselle  Ouerouaille,  maid  of  honour  to 
Madame,  and  now  to  be  so  to  the  Oueen/' 
Evelyn  jotted  in  his  Diary,  The  baby  face 
wa-  a  deceptive  one  ;  and  the  simplicity  was 
u  mask  for  iranscendent  art  in  finessino-. 
*' How  long,"  asked  Louis  XI\\,  Louvois, 
Lioniic  Colbert,  and  the  Court  of  Louis  XIV., 
''  'ill  the  resistance  of  this  childish-lookino-  o-irl 
be  carried  on  ? " 

Meanwhile,  the  Court  of  Whitehall  noted  the 
furious  tantriuns  of  the  Duchess  of  Cleveland, 
and  other  signs  of  her  disgrace.  ^'  The  influ- 
ence of  the  Duchess,"  reported  the  French 
ambassador,^  ''  visibly  wanes.  The  trouble  and 
expense  which  the  Conde  Molina  has  been 
ctt  tu  get  her  round  to  the  Spanish  side,  have 
been   thrown   away.     While  she   loses  favour, 

1  Colbert  to  Louvois,  Sept.  21,  167 1. 

64 


M 


ACCESSION  OF  LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE.    65 


the  King  of  England's  fancy  for  Mademoiselle 
de  Keroualle  grows  stronger.  The  attacks  of 
niusea  she  had  yesterday,  when  dining  with 
me,  makes  me  hope  I  shall  find  in  her  a  useful 
ally  as  long  as  my  embassy  lasts."  ^ 

This  attack  of  nausea  was  a  cause  of    de- 
light   to   the    Court  of    France.     ''  The    Kin<T 
was  greatly  pleased,"  wrote  Louvois,  ''  to  hear 
in  what  manner  Mademoiselle  Keroualle  suf- 
fered when  dining  the  other  day  at  the  French 
embassy.      There  was  nothing  in  her  conduct 
since   she   left    France,    to    lead   us    to    expect 
that  such  a  piece  of  good  fortune  was   croino- 
so  soon  to  befall  her.      His  Majesty  is  anxious 
to  be  informed  of  what  may  grow  out  of  this 
situation,  and  of  the  terms  on  which  she  and 
the     King   have    come    to    stand    mutually."  ^ 
But     the    rejoicing    was    premature,  and    the 
sickness  recorded  in  the  diplomatic  paper  had 
•;   :    ilie    cause   suspected.       Louise    continued 
to  blow  hot  and  cold  at  King  Charles.     She 
seemed   to  make    light  of  the  great    interests 
whicli   her  coyness  might   damage.       Her    re- 

^  Colbert  to  Louvois,  Sept.  21,  167 1. 
2  Louvois  to  Colbert  de  Croissy,  in   original  autograph, 
Sept.  29,  167 1,  Aff.  Etr.^  Angleierre^  tome  cii.,  fol.  283. 


< 


66 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


^i-'ai:ce     al'inn    :     the     Court    of      \  crsailles. 

r^uu^'ticss,      Liuirles     I '\\\v\     pleasure      i:i     Iv-r 
^nc!^'t\'  ( 'iiiw       !'..:   h''  w,.-.  not   a   mnn    b^   -'•ui!*-r 

u>   rei-n   over  him.      W  a-   u    nnt 
ho    wnokl    cnn^?">h'     nnur-:!! 
lor  n-r  rc:,ervc,  wiiii  -lan-  uther  beaiii\  ' 


'i      T  :  r 


>    !  i 


o 


*<  !♦ 


cr-:-t:i*n    that    th-    Kine    ^'' 


n 


i'rl n  1;  (  ; 


L  1   i   i  u 


'  i  1       I '..'  1 


Madeiiioaajiic 


1    i  i  I-    s 


h--.ard 


!.<.- 


ti  i. 


■^ aa \\  :5         vi        \i  cii  111 

Karoualle  :   rial    a-riiaps   ^<'a    aan 
T^an    <a:aa'     r^uiirces,    what    a    hiiah,     luriii^neLi 
iaida'in^s     laive    been    ;;^'r^-a    \ 

\  1  i:^      McijC:3L)'      goes      lu      1 

at    aaa-    (j'clock     i:\K-x\     aa'Tain^r,     a-, 
thei't;     I'a"    If-'^    uai!!    ail    Ivnir,    a'la 

eleven  o'clock.      He   it. 


r  U  U  I  i  1  i> 


LU  i  ^ 


diniv  r.    ari'l     sliares    ut    h^T    caiah-ta 


i  1 ',,  i    r?  i.  < 


aiu.l   i0sse^^.    n^a.  !.a' 


\n 


>t  ■' 


.■H.  lH_i  iii»wiiV 


■*.     T     ■ 


f     V 


miTii^t  "r^ 


_'  i    M         .lis 


1    I 


a  la  ■! 

1    4,   i    i.  : 


-Hi 


:are, 


L*  a  I   r-<aii  i     n_» 


n 


at    t ra 

akiiou^'ii     i  i  iri     A 


1  ;  i  I  u  '     i  i  V- 


l  a  u    R  i  i  i : 


ia  v\\\\\ 


>  t  a  i.  t 


r> 


i  ■  \  •  f  ■ 


i  -       \.  i. 


affa"r-.  to  ladioc:,  >u.\.  ..-.   traa/  a^aaa  wan  ra 
tiiey  pleased,  render  lU-services  t*-    tab  ^^ 

defp^.t    thfar'    laaiis,    il    w",. -    w^il     a^r 

.    tia.t    las    majesty 


ka  J  s    orood     seiaai 

*_3  O 


ACCESSION  OF  'LOUISE   DE   KEROUALLE.     67 


should  have  a  fancy  for  Mademoiselle  Kerou- 
alle,   who  was  not  of  an  evil    ilisposition,   uai 

'va^  a  lad\a  Tt  wa^^  "l^etter  to  hax'^^  dcalnvs 
Willi  liar  liKiii  waih  lewd  and  bouiicinL:'  -a\ai  ^a- 
irlrls  and  actresses  of  whom  no  man  of  quality 
cuuiU  lake  the  measara,  one  wa-  ao  laraai- 
i^ant  ir  scold;  and  wlii  n  the  kinir  uu,  aath 
lier,  parcDons  ol  breeding  could,  waia  au  loss 
of  dignity,  go  to  iu  r  rooms,  and  })ay  lira 
and  h-r  their  court.  Milord  Arda-tcai  t^dd 
me  to  advise  Mademoiselle  ka  :«  u  liio  to  aul- 
ti\'at^  the  k!na"'s  a'ood  r^racr^.  and  to  "^ai  ]aan- 
age,  that  he  should  only  find  at  her  lodgings 
enjoyment,  peace,  and  quietness.  Ho  added 
that,  ii  i.ady  Arlington  took  his  advice,  she 
would  uro^e  the  new  favourite  a'tla  r  t  ^  yield 
unreservedl)  lu  the  1\  ng,  or  to  retire  lu  a 
French  convent.  In  his  opinion,  I  slaaild 
also  advise  her  in  this  sense.  I  aaa  red 
'  cularly,  that  I  was  not  such  a  tool,  or  so 
ungrateful  to  the  king,  as  to  loll  iicr  to  pre- 
fer religion  to  his  good  graces  ;  that  I  as 
persuaded  she  did  not  await  xvi^s  ad\dce,  but 
that,  nevertheless,  I  should  n*>t  sparu  it  tipon 
h^r.  to  show  how  botii  I  and  Milord  appre- 
ciated her  influence,   and  in    what    esteem  he 


68 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


held  her.  I  beheve  I  ran  assure  you  that 
she  hii:^  bu  ^ui  round  i\  _^  Charles  as  to  be 
of  th^"   greatest   -^rvice  to   our   sov-  rcicrn  and 

in;  -t  ;r,  if  she  unl)  does  her  duty."  ^ 

1  h  :  C  nnt' — ^  of  Adincrton  ended  '  >  f"ol- 
L)v;in^  iicr  hurDUaiiu  :=  advice,  and  Luiicorted 
witii  Colbert  de  Croiss\  li^v.-  to  brin^:  about 
the    coniplpte   surrender  ui    the   younor   French 

beautv. 

I  h's  anibassad^  ]  hi  held  a  high  place  in 
the  French  Judicature  i-^  President  a  Mortier. 
*'  He  v;as  a  safe  and  sagacious  mediocrity, 
who,  \y\  liau  oi  application  and  plain  com- 
v?s)'x  sjnse,  made  up  foi"  what  he  spoiled  by 
the  coai"i_  iiLiiinjrs  cii.J  self-sufficieni  Jispo- 
-:i:  :i  of  his  family."  He  did  lo  *  think 
tradition  ui  judicial  dignity  anywise  in- 
inpatible  witli  ministering  to  the  vicious 
i:;-  (  f  L  liarles,  as  the  ensuing  despatch 
loonae  shows. 

"  The  kine^  did  me  yesterday  the  honour 
-up  at  the  Embassy,  where  he  proved  to 
me,  hx  indulging  in  a  gay  and  unf  ttered  de- 
uaiiCii,  iiiaL  ii<j  uL^e^  iiuL  iiii:DLi"Li:3L  me.  "     v.,.-narles 


LiiL 


•  r  j ; 


to 


'  Colbei;!  to  Louvois,  Oct.  8,  167 1,  tome  ci.,  fol.  167. 
2  January  15,  167 1. 


ACCESSION  OF  LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE.     69 


was   therefore    brought     without    difficulty,    to 


accept    an     iaxitatioi 


intcss     of 


Arhngton,  tu  take  Louise  K  eroualle  to  her 
la  h  ship's  seat  at  Fuston,  <o  that  he  might 
escape  there  from  his  Court,  which  ho  had 
brought  to  Newmiarket,  and  triumph  over 
her  remaining  scruples. 

''  I  am  going,"  the  ambassador  informed 
Louis,  '10  the  xXriia /itui-  plac<"  at  Euston ; 
a; hi  as  the  kinof's  inclination  lor  Mademoiselle 
K eroualle,  w^ho  is  10  go  there  with  me,  is 
foresee  that  he   will  often  run  across 


rismg, 


A- 


X'^^wniarlt^^t  t'"^  *^ee  lier."^ 


The  plot  was  approved  of  lo  1  .ouis  ;  but,  to 
save  his  dignity,  when  it  Avas  a  little  bruited 
he  affected  to  treat  ii  as  a  good  piwctical  joke. 
MF  Majesty  was  vastly  amused,"  Louvois 
wa^  instructed  to  say,^  ''  with  all  that  was  iii 
vour  letter  about  Mile,  de  Keroualle,  and  will 
!i  i\c  pieasuro  \\\  hearing  of  the  progress  she 
makes  m  the  King's  favour.  lo  oven  jested 
on  the  subject,  and  savs  that  tiicrc  rraa'^t  eitlier 
be  small  love  for  too  mistress  or  great  confi- 

1  October  8,  167 1. 

2  Oct.  20,  1 67 1.     Original  autograph,  Affaires  Etrangcres 
Ajigkterre,  tome  cii.,  fol.  290. 


70 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


dence  felt  in  \  -j,  to  suffer  \'0']  to  ctq  i  -  luiston 


s;:di  lr)ll\-  C'  'in;  ^a\\\ , 


a 


Hiichwom  n 


•  -•  ^   ■   ■    •        1    ,    ■   r  -,        •  "I       •■-■>,.       •.  s 


a:>  I  h:  iircwi;rode,  and  lu-r 


»  1  .  ■  t- 


1     .  I  1  i  ■-  i 


r.,.' 


lix 


i.1  '11 

L  1  i  ■  ,       ill' 


r    I 


if'    V  f 


n  !'\' 


1  .>  i 


ur^Ki^Hvin-  .u;^l    suiiii^tuous  surroun'iin- 

had  bc-;:i  iV):"c^:..i  J  a-  uif:   nccessilie:^  .u-i-:n,. 


■.  nn 


these  tti-i' -.  t  )  promise  in  ;nuriage  ii-r  only 
cliild, — one  ^f  l:  most  lovely  girls  tl^at  ever 
bloomed   on    hnglish  soil, — to  the  son   (;i    ihe 

Dach^-^    <"f   Cleveland.       Sh'^    ni^arr-d    li^r-elf 

agciiia  the  loss  oi  patr*.nage  wni  a  ilie  dis- 
l{race  of  liait  inistresr.   would   ^  at  la    1  \   aiaklno- 

hur  owa  :.cal,  n-ur  A-wraaiaa'a  !;:•'  th'-alrc  of 
the  French  aiv. ':aaa;'^-.  ^a\a:  !.  nv 


A   ! 

1     ! 


]:- 


.  .i::>LUli     i-^     a. 


aaaiense   aua---.    I'aai 

•  aa  t  .  )  aangs  and  four  pavilion^.  A  balus- 
trade caa)aa-  th^'  maiision.  and  is  nrnamentf^d 
at  equal  iaiiaces  with  alternate  vases  and 
statar^^.  'lla^ro  was  tliare.  in  1672,  a  pictarr 
^^  i  '■}      -i^     billiard      room;      a     chapel,     an 

an  !     a    conservatory    adorned    with 
Ca^sar^    ai   alabaster.      The  npart- 

^-^■-'^  ^'^  ^^'-^^^h  guest  were  so  well   isolated,  liait 

•  '  -1  -  -      , ,  .       . 

:  1  f  '  (  \  r         en.-  tTi'  ■'»  ■■-t;f  -^i^  --!' 


O^a  n  rr{--]'\- 


ri     i  >i      l  i  i  ^ 


1 '  n 


ACCESS  10 A'    OF  LOUISE  DE   KEROUALLE.    71 


w 


1 1 


"■•  L. 


a   of  the  house,  and  era-;   a  a  inde- 
a  ashment.     The  kine's  aaarnnents 


\\aa"o 


anted    ia    !ia;scn. 


elegant!)     iiirnished.        1  a  r      aara    naaa  1  aus 

I'atii  rooma.  a  pharmacy;  and  in  the  pnnltrv 
yard  cuup^  a^a"  laiiening  a -a  L  i'ia:  stables 
contained   iTiirtx*  horses,   and 


.("'-*! 


^\ 


1 

w  \  , 

1  i  c  i.  ■ 


■  a    aa,in\*    i 


iiiV-iill^w  i 


'oaches    i 


ul 


4.  1  1  >■-_-  I- 1 


t  n  r> 


1 1- 


m  f  •  ■ 


AfHaatsaa  Besides  the  1  iwi.ca  aaiaa-.  Lady 
Arlineton  had  invited  the  Countess  a  "^nn- 
(Itaiand  anr]  a  larcre  laaaber  of  members  of  the 
Curt.  The  kin^r  who  w^as  at  Newmarket, 
came  <^vcry  other  day,  and  nft^n  sl^in  at 
iaa:  tiai  la  ihe  month  of  October. 

''Tl'  kine,"  wrote  Colbert/  ''come-  liere 
for  ia-  repasts;  and  after  c.aa;g  he  parses 
several  hours  with  Mile.  Kenaaiae.  lie  has 
already  paid  her  three  visits  ;  and  he  invited 
us  yesterday  to  Newmarket,  to  see  the  races. 
We  w^ent,  and  were  charminn-lv  entertained, 
ana  he  seemed  more  than  ever  sohcitous  to 
nleasp  Mll^a  Kerona-le.  Tliose  small  aiuii- 
laj.i:^  which  denote  a  gr  .a  passion  ware  lavished 
on  h/a'  :   and  as  ^lie   slinwwl    in'  a^a'  ("''x^awssions 

*  Colbert  lu  Louvois,  Oct.  22,  1671. 


f 


1"* 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


\ 


of  gratitude  that  she  was  not  insensible  to  the 
kindness  of  a  great  king,  we  hope  she  will  so 
behave  that  the  attachment  will  be  durable  and 
exclude  every  other." 

It  may  be,  that  the  Countesses  of  Arlington 
and  Sunderland,  under  the  pretext  of  killing 
the  tedium  of  October  evenings  in  a  country 
house,  got  up  a  burlesque  wedding  in  which 
Louise  de  Keroualle  was  the  bride  and  the  king 
the  bridegroom,  with  all  the  immodest  cere- 
monies  which  marked,  in  the  good  old  times, 
the  retirement  of  the  former  into  her  nuptial 
chamber. 

"  The  events  of  that  night  were  the  talk  of 
the  whole  Court,  and  the  subject  of  the  pam- 
phlets of  t  :e  day."  These  pamphlets,  in  their 
sharp  precision  and  directness,  bear  the  stamp 
of  truth.  They  give  in  broken  English  the 
coy  exclamations  of  Louise,  ''  Me  no  bad 
woman.  If  me  taut  me  was  one  bad  woman, 
me  would  cut  mine  own  trote."^     A  guest  of 

1  See  Evelyn,  Oct.  9,  167 1  ;  and  The  Secret  History  of 
the  Reigns  of  Charles  11.  and  fames  J  I.  See  also  The 
Blatant  Beast,  The  English  puritans  braved  modesty  when 
they  wanted  to  defend  decency  against  licence.  Their  de- 
scriptions of  "the  nights  at  Euston  "  are  too  strong  for  mo- 
dern laste  to  bear.     The  Royal  Wanton^  and  Andrew  Marvel's 


f 


/ 


( ' 


I 


I 


ACCESSION  OF  LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE.     73 

the  Arlingtons,  Evelyn,  declares  that  he  never 
saw  at  Euston  a  fete  such  as  is  described  by 
the  pamphleteers.  But  he  adds,  that  he  was 
only  admitted  twice  to  the  king's  table  ;  and 
he  states  that  Louise  remained  in  her  undress 
for  a  whole  day,  whilst  every  one  was  trying 
to  amuse  and  pet  her.  At  any  rate,  she  had 
a  son  exactly  nine  months  after  the  mock 
marriage  at  Euston,^  and  Louis  XIV.  on  being 
informed  of  what  took  place  there,  ordered 
his  ambassador  to  present  his  congratulations 
to  Mile,  de  Keroualle.  *'  I  have  made  that 
young  lady  joyful,"  replied  Colbert  de  Croissy, 
**  in  assuring  her  of  the  pleasure  with  which 
his  majesty  learned  of  her  brilliant  conquest. 
There  is  every  prospect  that  she  will  hold  long 
what  she  has  conquered." 

The  French  ladies  at  Paris  and  Versailles 
viewed  the  intrio^ue  in  another  lio^ht.  Mme. 
de  Sevlgne  wrote  to  her  daughter,^  "  Don't 
you  like  to  hear  that  little  Keroualle,  whose 
star  was  divined  before  she  left,  has  foUow^ed 

lampoons  show  how  English  feeling  was  in  revolt  against  the 
French  mistress  of  Charles. 

^  Colbert  to  Louvois,  Nov.  2,  167 1. 

2  March  30,  1672. 


74 


LOUISE   DE  KEROUALLE. 


it  faithfully.  The  King  of  England,  on  seeing 
her,  straightway  fell  in  love,  and  she  did  not 
frown  at  him  when  he  declared  his  passion. 
The  upshot  is,  that  she  is  in  an  interesting 
state.  I  it  not  all  astonishing!  Castlemaine 
is    in    disgrace.       England,    truly,    is    a    droll 

country  !  " 

Yet  in  that  ^'droll  country"  Milton  had,  four 
years  earlier,  published  his  Paradise  Lost,  and 
Newton  in  that  very  year  his  Theory  of  Light 

Louis  at  once  tried  to  turn  Louise's  situation 
to  diplomatic  account.  Three  advantages,  he 
believed,  might  be  derived  from  the  favour  she 
enjoyed  :  (i)  an  alliance  against  Holland  ;  (2) 
a  profession  by  Charles  of  the  Catholic  faith  ; 
(3)  a  match  between  the  king's  brother,  the 
1)  jke  of  York,  and  a  princess  chosen  by  Louis. 
The  alliance  was  soon  concluded.  In  the 
face  of  the  interests,  the  prejudices,  and  the 
relicrious  feelino^s  of  the  English,  Charles  de- 
clared  war  against  Holland  in  March,  1672,  in 
the  sixth  month  of  Louise's  pregnancy.  On 
the  28th  of  April  of  the  same  year,  Louis  set 
out  from  M  Germain  en  Laye  on  his  con- 
quering tour  in  Flanders.    . 

•The  profession    by  Charles  of  the  Catholic 


n 


I 


I 


ACCESSION  OF  LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE.     75 

faith  was  not  so  easy  to  obtain.  He  began 
by  objecting  that  the  Pope  was  too  old  to 
bring  to  a  happy  conclusion  a  step  of  such  im- 
portance,^ and  that  the  English  Catholics  were 
too  weak  in  numbers,  and  had  too  few  stroncr 
brains  among  them,  to  give  him  good  support. 
Louise  and  his  wife's  confessor,  Father  Patrick, 
tried  to  screw  his  courage  up,^  because  the 
Catholic  religion  could  only  be  set  up  again, 
they  argued,  through  a  close  union  between 
the  Most  Christian  King  and  Charles.  Father 
Patrick  kept  Colbert  de  Croissy  well  informed 
about  the  king's  objections,  and  everything  else 
that  he  thought  worth  reporting.  Charles  and 
Arlington  more  than  hinted  that  it  would  be 
gratifying  to  them  were  Louis  to  grant  the 
diplomatic  priest  an  abbey,  with  a  salary  of 
four  or  five  thousand  liv7^es.  This  wish  was 
strongly  dwelt  upon  in  despatches  of  Col- 
bert de  Croissy,  who  said  that  F^'ather  Patrick 
had  so  brought  round  Charles  that  he  sent 
word  to  the  Queen  of  Spain  that  he  was  de- 
termined to  become  a  Catholic.^ 


^  Colbert  to  Lionne,  tome  c,  fol.  82. 

~  Ibid.,  March  i,  1672. 

^  Colbert  to  Pomponne,  March  14,    1672. 


The  Queen 


/ 


y 


76 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


Charles's  brother  had  no  sort  of  hesitation 
to  profess  his  religion.  His  wife  had  just  died 
in  the  Catholic  faith,  and  expressing  all  the 
sentiments  which  a  recent  conversion  mieht 
be  expected  to  prompt.  His  son  followed  her 
to  the  grave  a  few  days  later.  The  Duke  of 
York  asked  the  king  s  leave  to  remarry,  taking 
a  Catholic  wife,  and  declaring  openly  his  faith. 
All  the  belles  of  the  court  bedizened  themselves 
in  their  precious  stones  and  other  finery,  to 
make  a  conquest  of  the  heir  presumptive  to 
the  throne.  The  beauty  and  wealth  of  the 
widowed  Duchess  of  Northumberland  made 
her  a  redoubtable  competitor.  Lady  Fal- 
mouth, another  widow,  was  then  spoken  of.^ 
''  But,"  said  Colbert,  ''  I  doubt  whether  this 
Prince's  passion  for  her  is  so  great  as  to  lead 
him  to  marry  her.  He  would  rather  take  a 
French  princess,  to  whom  his  majesty  might 
^ive  a  dowry."  ^ 


of  Spain,  placed  between  her  conscience  and  her  political 
interest,  coldly  said  :  '*  Me  haveis  alegrado  mucho  con  la 
buena  Jieuva  de  la  piadosa  ifitcncion  del  rey  vuesiro  amo, 
Yo  ayudare  cumpliniiento  de  tod  as  mis  fuercas^ 

1  Colbert  to  the  King  of  France,  April  13,  1671.  Lady 
Falmouth  received  immense  sums  and  secret  subventions 
irom  Charles.  2  Sept.  29,  167 1. 


i 


ACCESSION  OF  LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE.     jy 

''  If  the  Duke  of  York,"  answered  Louvois, 
''wants  a  wife  who  is  almost  certain  to  bear 
him  children,  he  can't  do  better  than  take 
Madame  de  Guise,^  who  laid  in  thrice  in  two 
years,  and  whose  birth,  wealth,  and  hopes  of 
fecundity  should  make  up  for  her  want  of 
beauty." 

The  Duke  of  York,  meanwhile,  sought  to 
console  himself  for  the  loss  of  his  wife  by 
giving  up  Arabella  Churchill,  and  becoming 
intimate  with  Miss  Sedley,  who  passed  for 
being  a  prude.^  Colbert  was  therefore  puzzled 
to  think  how  he  could  draw  the  Duke  into 
wishing  for  a  marriage  between  himself  and 
Madame  de  Guise.  He  promised  Lionne  to 
neglect  no  opportunity  to  bring  about  a  match 

^  Elizabeth  d'Orleans,  second  daughter  of  Gaston, 
brother  of  Louis  XIII.,  married  in  1667  to  Louis  Joseph, 
sixth  Due  de  Guise,  a  widow  in  July,  167 1  ;  died  in  1696. 
The  desirability  of  a  match  between  the  Duke  of  York  and 
la  Grande  Mademoiselle  was  never  once  discussed,  although 
that  Princess  said  she  was  asked  to  marry  him. 

2  Miss  Sedley  had  the  gift  of  wit.  On  coming  to  the 
throne,  James  created  her  Countess  of  Dorchester,  and 
when  he  was  dethroned  by  his  daughter  Mary,  Sir  Charles 
Sedley,  who  voted  for  the  Prince  and  Princess  of  Orange, 
said  :  "  James  made  my  daughter  a  Countess,  and  I  now 
make  his  daughter  a  Queen." 


M 


78 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


with  that  lady,  who,  being  the  second  daughter 
oi  oaston,  Dae  d'Orleans,  was  a  niece  of 
;  i  arietta  M  iHa,  and  a  first  cousin  of  the  Duke 
of  York.  On  the  23rd  of  January,  1673,  he 
wrote,  "  I  shall  neglect  no  means  to  ensure 
success  in  this  affair,  and  I  hope  to  triumph 
over  every  difficulty  through  the  queen's  con- 
fessor and  the  new  mistress." 


s 


II 


I 


CHAPTER   IV. 

THE  RIVALS, 

Colbert  de  Croissy  ignored  none  of  the  dan- 
gers   which   beset    Louise  de   Keroualle,    who 
was  hated  and  attacked  by  such  old  favourites 
as  the  Duchesses  of  Cleveland  and  Richmond, 
and  the  fresher  theatrical  ones  like  Nell  Gwynn. . 
In   his   despatch  of  December   24th   he   wrote 
to  Louvois  :  ''  The  king  is  going  to  sup  and 
dance  at  Lord  Arlington's,  and  I  am  to  be  of 
the   party.     So    also   is  the   Duchess  of  Rich- 
mond.     Her  great  talent  is  dancing.     Made- 
moiselle de  Keroualle  may  be  taken  in  by  all 
these  parties,  and  all  the  more  so  because  she 
does  not  keep  her  head  sober,  since  she  has 
got  the  notion  into  it  that  it  is  possible  she  may 
yet  be   Queen    of   England.     She    talks    from 
morning  till  night  of  the  Queen's  ailments  as 
if  they  were  mortal." 

The  tongues  of  every  one  else,  it   must  be 
owned,  ran   on   the   same   topic,  and  each  de- 

19 


8o 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


ifl' 


manded  the    other   when   Catherine   might   be 
expected  to  die. 

"  M.  Frazer,  the  king  s  physician,  has  ob- 
tained the  kinof's  leave  to  examine  into  the 
queens  malady,  and  has  found  it  to  be  con- 
sumption, which  will  end  her  life  in  two  or 
three  months,  or,  at  latest,  in  a  year.  I  hear 
it  said,  that  the  king  was  resolved  the  moment 
God  takes  this  princess  to  Himself,  not  to  let 
a  month  pass  without  satisfying  the  prayers  of 
his  subjects.  He  would  choose  for  his  wife 
some  young  and  beautiful  person  of  high  birth 
capable  of  bearing  him  children.     The  doctors 

all  talk  thus  to  ingratiate  themselves  with  the 

k"  1 
mg. 

Catherine,  though  reputed  so  feeble  and  dis- 
eased, had  a  long  life  before  her.  She  died 
thirty-two  years  later.  But  the  theologians 
came  to  the  help  of  the  doctors,  when  it  was 
found  the  latter  had  excited  false  hopes.  The 
death  of  the  queen,  they  said,  was  not  necessary 
for  the  king's  happiness.  He  was,  as  Luther 
taught  in  a  parallel  case,  free  to  take  a  second 
wife  while  the  first  was  livinor.^ 

^  Colbert  to  Louvois,  Feb.  20,  1673. 

2  This  was  the  opinion  of  Gilbert  Barnet,  the  theolo^^ian 


\i  i 


I 


\ 


i.yiisijis.  jrz^:ic. 


y 


lb  uM^yrryyu^y  rr/  ^d'9^M/:i^,pi 


y  / 


THE  RIVALS, 


81 


But  as  Charles  had  no  fixity  of  aim,  he 
was  led  by  his  pleasures  from  the  idea  of  a 
second  marriaQ-e.  Widiout  meaninof  to  afilict 
the  queen,  or  vex  any  of  his  mistresses,  he  was 
drawn  into  fresh  amours.  In  eight  months  he 
gave  Lady  Falmouth  seven  thousand  pounds, 
and  the  Duchess  of  Cleveland  more  than  forty 
thousand. 

The  duchess  held  the  king  by  her  four 
children,  of  three  of  whom  he  thought  himself 
the  father.  She  hectored  him  into  acknow- 
ledging himself  the  parent  of  the  fourth,  which 
she  did  not  deny  to  be  a  son  of  Henry  Jenny n, 
brother  of  the  Queen  Dow^ager  s  domestic  ty- 
rant, and  husband,  in  fact  if  not  in  name.  Henry 
himself  stood  in  a  similar  relation  to  the  Prin- 
cess Dowager  of  Orange,  born  Princess  Royal 
of  Enp-land.     The  Duchess  of  Cleveland,  not- 

o 

withstanding  her  undisguised  passion  for  him, 
remained  virtual  sovereign,  not  only  at  the 
court  festivities,  but  in  the  queen's  bed- 
chamber.      Louise    de    Keroualle   was    unable 

and  historian  of  William  of  Orange.  His  famous  treatises  : 
Solution  of  hvo  Cases  of  Conscience^  and  The  other  Deforce,  and 
what  Scripture  allows  in  those  Cases,  have  not  been  re- 
printed in  the  collection  of  his  works,  but  are  to  be  found 
in  John  Mackey's  Court  of  Great  Britain. 


S2 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE 


to    dislodge  her    from   that  position   until   her 
Ciince  had  to  retire  to  France  to  escape  from 
her  creditors.      The  two  rivals  were,  therefore, 
at  t^^p  time  of  Catherine  s  great  illness,  fece  to 
face.      Barbara  was    a   furious    scold,   and    ab- 
sorbed in  amours  which  could  not  be  termed 
secret,  inasmuch  as  they  were  the   town   talk. 
Louise  was  tender,  languishing,  reticent,  and  de- 
voted to  French  interests,  or  rather  to  her  own 
interests,    which   were    bound    up    in    those  of 
i  ranee.      0\\^   impudently  played   the   wanton 
with  other  men,  and   the    other  sold   Charles. 
Bar:  ara  scolded,   laughed,  and  swore;  Louise 
pretended  to    love  and   languish.     Of  all   the 
favourites,  the  only  one  the  English  liked  was 
N      J  Gwynn,  the  gay,  piquant  orange-girl  and 
actress.    Sparks  about  the  Court,  and  statesmen, 
took  liberties  with  her,  which  she  sometimes  re- 
sented in  a  way  that  would,  were  it  not  for  her 
feminine  charm  and  good   temper,  have  been 
thought  too  rough  and  ready.   Colbert  de  Croissy 
informed  Pomponne  ^  that  Buckingham,  having 
one  morning  entered   the  reserved   apartment 
of  the  king  to  talk  with  him  about  state  affairs, 
found  Nell    there,    she   still    having  the   good 

1  Colbert  to  Pomponne,  Jan.  23,  1672. 


THE  RIVALS. 


S3 


fortune  to  please  Charles.     The  duke  pressed 
her  hard  to  grant  him  the  favours  she  accorded 
to  his  master ;  and  as  he  rumpled  her  collar  in 
trying  to  snatch  kisses,  she  boxed  his  ears.      At 
least  so  she  said,  and  those  who  heard,  believed 
her.      Her  adventures  w^ere  the  town  talk,  and 
amused  rather  than  shocked  the  good  folks  of 
London.      It  is  clear  that  she  was  an  impudent 
jade,    with    irrepressible    spirits    and    romping 
ways.        But   the    English,    under    the    merry 
monarch,    liked    boisterous   gaiety   and    coarse 
fun.      Clarendon's  popularity    was    due   to   his 
jollity,  frank  bluntness,  hilarious  sensuality,  and 
complete  absence  of  pretension.      He  let  him- 
self be  ruined  by  buffoons  and  mistresses,  and 
had  a  joyous  disposition   of  a  purely  English 
type,  which  prevented  him  taking  any  pleasure 
tn   French   fashions  and  ceremonious  festivity. 
Sympathy  with  high  animal  spirits  was  general 
at  Whitehall  in  the  time  of  Charles  H.  ""  Even 
the   poor   queen    herself  was   drawn   into    the 
torrent  of  jollification.     She  did    not  think  it 
beneath  her    dignity  to    disguise    herself  as   a 
country-woman  to  mingle  in  the  popular  sports 
at  fairs    and   markets   and  around    Maypoles. 
When  a  visitor  of  the  Countess  of  Suffolk  at 


84 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


Audley  End,  she  in  such  a  disguise  started 
off  on  .  pilHon  behind  old  Sir  Bernard  Gas- 
coigne.-^  The  beautiful  Frances  Stuari,  Duchess 
f  Richmond,  was  in  attendance,  dressed  as  a 
Kii  in^T's  wiPv  an  I  also  on  a  pillion  behind  Mr. 
Roper,  hi  these  travesties  they  went  to  the 
fair  of  Saffron  W  alden.  The  real  country 
folks,  taking  them  for  play-actors,  mobbed 
them  so  roughly  that  they  had  to  get  on  horse- 
back and  rallnp  off.  A  band  of  well-mounted 
yeomen  rode  after  them,  giving  them  chase 
to  Audley  End,  where  the  porters,  when  the 
fugitives  dashed  into  the  park,  shut  the  gates 
in  the  fac^s  of  their  pursuers. 

Successful  actresses,  in  the  reign  of  Charles, 
lived  in  great  luxury.  Nell  Gwynn's  bed  was 
adorned  with  ornaments  in  carved  and  repoiissd 
silver.^     S'e  was,  in  the  Royal  favour,  the  suc- 

^  A  Florentine  gentleman,  brought  into  England  by  Mary 
de  Medici  when  Queen  Dowager  of  France  and  mother-in- 
law  of  Charles  1.  Sir  Bernard  Gascoigne  had  served  in 
the  Royal  army  in  the  Civil  War. 

-  See  the  documents  that  have  been  preserved  at  Mal- 
vern Wells,  at  Mr.  Francis  Hopkinson's.  Nell  made  the 
Treasury  pay  for  her  boxes  at  the  theatres  to  which  she 
went  as  a  spectator.  She  saw  the  "  Tempest "  four  times 
at  the  cost  of  the  country;   and  '* Macbeth,"  "Hamlet," 


THE  RIVALS. 


S5 


cessor  of  Mary,  or  Moll  Davies,  whom  the 
king  got  Sir  Francis  Ratcliffe  to  marry,  after 
she  had  given  birth  to  a  daughter,  christened 
Mary  Tudor,  to  point  out  that  she  was  of  the 
blood  royal. ^  Moll  was  Welsh,  like  Nell ;  and 
so  were  the  Tudors.  In  turn,  Nell  Hwynn  \ 
was  supplanted  by  a  comic  actress,  named 
Knight.  But  she  was  never  wholly  abandoned 
by  the  king,  whose  last  words  were  :  ''  Don't 
let  poor  Nelly  starve.''  She  was  popular  to 
the  end. 

The  most  hated  of  all  the  favourites  was 
Louise  de  Keroualle,  who  was  thought  sly  and 
intriguing,  and  was  regarded  as  the  incarna- 
tion of  the  French  king's  policy,  and  the  worst 
enemy  of  England.  Court  and  people  were 
of  one  mind  about  her ;  and  it  must  be  owned 
that  popular  instinct  roughly,  but  truly,  divined 
the  part  she  was  playing,  and  the  danger  there 

and  "Lear,"  once  between  September,  1674,  and  June, 
1675.  ^^^  ^^^  ^'^^  CoDunission  on  Historical  Ma7iuscripis^ 
vol.  iii.,  p.  266 ;  and  Pennant's  Account  of  Londoti. 

1  This  girl  was,  on  growing  up,  provided  with  a  dowry 
from  the  Exchequer,  and  given  in  marriage  to  the  Earl  of 
Derwentwater.  Her  son  was  the  Catholic  earl  who  was 
implicated  ni  the  Jacobite  rising  against  George  I.,  and 
executed,  Feb.  24,  17 16. 


\ 


86 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


ll.r!)lirr]| 


national  ex'uiiition. 


>i1s,  of  an  arrest  oi  liie 
h  \  as  into  her  ear,  chietly, 
tha:  i  u  .rles  pnurccl  his  complaints  of  the 
rude  and  restive  behaviour  of  his  Parliaments. 
*  T!v  Ki;^:;  ^T  England,"  wrote  Colbert  de 
Croissy.  on  Ma'ca  y,  1673,  ''hides  his  chagrin 
:..  ^v  !i  a-  la  can.  But  I  see  that  he  has 
pie  1}  :  i:  ;  ai a.  ii  1  can  believe  ATndemoiselle 
de  Keroualle,  he  told  her  yesterday  that  there 
vas  no  course  open  to  him  bia  a^  dissolve 
Parliamcaa  Although  such  a  step  would  be 
of  the  nio^t  vital  iaiportance  to  your  a  jesty's 
interests,  I  have  not  yet  ventured  aj  ti)  and 
obtain    fr     i    Arlington    confirmation  of  what 

Lcaaie  told   me.'* 

s  \    :\  adroit  and  careful  in  feeling 

i  keeping  within  her  depth.  She 
ci    urging   anything   which   might 

\"  ar.  Seeing  it  would  be  fatal  to 
her  intluence,  and  to  her  matrimonial  hopes, 
to  t  re  :  (Acaa  :.  into  making  a  profession  of 
Roman  Latholicism,  she  got  the  ambassador, 
Colbert  t~>  inform  Louis  that,  'f  1-^  Kino-  of 
England  once  declared  himself  a  Catholic, 
every  one  would  forsake  him.  The  part  of 
the    nation    which    alone    had    backbone    and 


the  ilea    ia 
Louise  a 

her  wax     a; 
abstamed    i 

lead  to  civc 


THE  RIVALS, 


87 


Stubborn  will,  was  anti-Popish.  The  Duke  of 
York,  by  his  rash  zeal,  had  made  a  public 
reconciliatioa  of  his  In^  uicr  wcili  the  Charrh 
oi  Ivome  impossible.  There  was  bai  a  single 
course  to  follow.  Tt  was  by  slow  degrees  to 
habituate  the  English  lu  a  revival  ci  Catholic 
ideas,  rites,  and  ceremonies. 

On  the  subject  of  the  Duke  oi  1  ork's 
second  marriage,  Louise  stood  apart  from  the 
1  a  1]  A  embassy.  She  wanted  thai  j  rnire  to 
marry  a  daughter  of  the  Duke  d'Elbceal.  and 
not  the  widow  of  the  Pake  de  Guise,  whom 
Louvois  proposed. 

The  diplomacy  of  Louis  X  1  \  iaa  1  been, 
up  to  this  juncture,  under  the  direction  of 
Lionne,  a  man  (  f  superior  parts,  and  t!ie 
greatest  of  Mazarin's  disciples,  lie  died  pic- 
niaturely  at  the  end  A"  1671.  Arnauld  de 
ia.caponne,  his  successor,  was  remarkable  for 
his  native  rectitude,  his  good  judgment,  and 
the  exquisite  keenness  of  his  perceptions  Ke 
weighed  and  did  everything  with  maturity,  and 
yet  did  not  procrastinate  needlessly.  He  was 
modest  and  moderate ;  of  beautiful  simplicity 
of  life  and  manners ;  had  a  crentle  address ; 
and    was,   in    conversaf'on,    instructive   and   of 


I 
t 


I 


88 


LOUISE   DE  KEROUALLE. 


ppnr:riting  sweetness  and   courtesy.       But  he 
ha  1  11   :  enoLio-h  *  f  v.ciorht  or  self-assertion  to 


)\' 


I  :  I 


t   Conn 


:o^^^,    tiKiii 


Ln';i|MLc    with    thcni    ds 


lafHM'i' Ji:~>,  aii'i    jifi  i^  IT!/' i    ritiVi'  t^ 
siiualKais    wnriv  (>ui    tlvhr   own    >< 

to     bolvc'     ihlliCLlith:^ 

th(:\'    arose.       l.nuvois    rninx-^'d    tiiL/s    of    war; 
Pompunne  shrank  from  tlioni. 

It  was  easy  to  sec  from  the  first  tliat  the 
Duke  of  York  would  stand  (uit  ai^ainst  a  match 
between  himself  and  Madame  dc  Guise.  An 
unfavourable  account  of  her,  ^iven  by  Madame 
Henriette,  his  sister,  who  disliked  her,  had 
left  such  a  strong  impression  on  his  mind  that 
he  would  not  listen  to  anything  to  her  ad- 
vantage. He  said  he  did  not  want  to  be  the 
husband  of  more  than  one  wife,  which  was  a 
good  reason  for  insisting  on  beauty.  Charles 
was  at  the  trouble  of  explaining  to  the  French 
ambassador,  that    his    brother    had    two    ereat 

o 

weaknesses — one  was  touchinij:  religion,  and 
the  other  touching  marriage.  The  first  had 
done  him  a  deal  of  mischief,  and  he  feared  the 
other  would  have  more  baleful  consequences. 
Since  the  death  of  the  Duchess  of  York,  he 
was  agog  for  making  a  fool  of  himself  a  second 


THE  RIVALS, 


89 


time.     To  prevent  him  marrying  for  love  alone, 
Mil  the  princesses  md  great  ladies  \\:io  passed 


lur  bciiiL^  dovntf 


I       IK) 


n    \V\ly 


.fc,     1.    .J 


1 ;  M  i  ■--.  8 


,c.   u 


it        -I  ,  -  ■  -  , 

it  \  V     n,   ' 


certain    tnat,    Avitli    his    uxoriC)iis    a 


h'- 


n.] 


1 1  i  i  '.a 


virtuiHis  disiiubiuon,  he  A\'uuld  be  $a'0Vcaiu:-J  bv 
his  witf. 

Ijut  Colbert  de  Croissy,  goaded  by  Louvois, 
continued  to  thwart  the  Duke  of  York,  who 
Avas  l)ent  on  a  love-match,  in  trying  to  force 
him  to  marry  the  Duchess  de  Guise.  This 
Avas  the  more  ill-judged,  because  the  French 
court  ran  the  risk  of  losing  all  power  over 
him,  and  throwing  him  into  the  arms  of  some 
German  princess.  Louise  de  Keroualle  saw 
the  dani^er  from  the  bei^innimj,  and  started 
the  idea  of  a  match  with  another  French  lady. 
She  herself  insisted,  in  an  interview  with  Col- 
bert, on  the  folly  of  trying  to  impose  a  mature 
and  by  no  means  attractive  wddow^  on  the 
Duke,  wdio  had  set  his  heart  upon  a  saintly 
life  with  a  young  beauty  of  virginal  attractions. 

'-'  ]\Ille.  de  Keroualle,"  reported  Colbert,  in 
a  despatch  dated  July  24,  1673,  ''has  had  the 
address  to  Cfet  the  Princess  of  Wurtemljun^- 
excluded  from  the  list  of  candidates  for  matri- 


I 


i  I 


90 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


nv'n\-  w'lh  t!v;  i  ):;kr;  .-1  \ -;  i<.  l>;.t  she  has 
sh  _»\vn  suca  ai'vluur  in  try:n-  t*  >  01.^,1111  a  pre- 
tl;rt"ncp  for  MUt.:.  dJ-.i^uit.  tii;il  iio^rxlx'  w;;l 
iiov;   l;:-iv'ii  If)  tile   |.a^li^(.::>  oi    Mada,ini:  tli:  l.  luir^e. 


Yesterdav  Miic,   dc    K 


I  ■ I  I  »i 


a.    111 


:ae    queens    ciianin*: 


t')       \\il;::>iJ'jr       tt 


^',  ,f     tr 


i-iul-.r:     Wi)lll',i 


aside 


i   1  i  U 


\    \     \   \  p^ 


C\  Flbnciif.  ev( 


i     1  ^  • '      ;  r      trill 


agreeable    tu 
ladv  chosen. 
Thu- 


iliof 


--4  1 


n  r 


if' 


111  t 


?  '' 


I  J.:  chess  (_>f 

Ize  t'l"  di'oikI  didies  ^  .f  t"- 
1  iic    iJL.cn',.::>s     i.c  I'. .rxxiii 
tdc    Duke   (ie    Houihon   a: 


as   a     a    at  favour  not 

laal    11    w-aM    uc   uis- 
■:A\     w^.ji'a    thai   \-i,)uni^ 

"cr   who  filled  an  ia- 
hou^chold     ^>r    tlie 

'  ^  <    n?  •         ■  1    K  '  ^   -         t       .        .    ,     ^   ?    .-         .  1 

a-  iaaa^a  r^f  Lorraine. 


i  1 


( ) 


iaiiada  r: 


i  -  ^  I.  ■ .  t 


Ul''      \\'< 


1 1  \i 

L    t    1     ' 


:"'  -aae. 
*ss    of 


aalle"   had 


wv.^.    uauL^ia'a's.   sa':    niau< 

a    a;r^ait    ivTraciiai^e    **  ai    a^  aa-    la^aa- 

become. 

Henceforaa     ih"     C'aa-t     cA     France    would 
in.ve     to     tr<:a:     \aLa     defer^jiice    the     Lrcion 


f^ivourite    wlio   t^  •   ■; 


1 1     i 


tiie 


f  ,• 


i  lancesse; 


't    l..*,an'a; 


A^ 


THE  RIVALS. 


91 


Tha    d'Elboeufs    were    poor.       But     Louise 
raci-voned   un   iht^ir   av-acaw  ana    laal    a:=dr    a-r- 

ai    lier    ru'ca,    a.)    ncciistoia    aa.- 


traits   huno-   in 


Lh:k'. 
fauk    i 


iounci 


C    '' 


WSl 


youth. 

Colberi  a  as  annoyed    a   this  rtraaa^em.      IL 

iSilrs-aH/d  Ara.a,ad  dc  Lvaapuraa:  lii.a  aidrn  de 
ki-isaaille  ha.Li  obtaaicd  Iro'ii  xaik:  i.iv.^.cs-^ 
i  ,a'  p'^^^'tra'ts   of  iiar  daa,.ditsi",  and    laid 


si     1  ..  ; 


Qone  i\K.:i    ij<j:,ji  lu   lure   uiu 


iosinor   ff)r  one  of  them      Sha  k 


represented,  l^aa  casi 
aaaaias  'a  a  a  a  hom  sia 
currespondence,  and  ti 
enjoyed. 

1\L     Cnio.ia:     do     Cr 


f  a 


...to 

a.: 


\  \'\ .  •  ',\ . 


iV- 


regular 


\\ 


sh 


I  a 

."■a Xx  "'.\  VK\ 

the 

\  web 

J  a     a  0 '  :-j  1 1 

i  !  ■  ; 

tiva  : 

ta 

i.a\' 

i;  \  a  iS 

\r 

>  defeat  1^ 

air 

plan. 

j. 

Colbert 

de 

^Xj 

1  \  ■ 

'a I    Louise. 

He 

Hi 

^^  ciaana; 

a,.aa 

-'O-     tn( 


L  ^        i.  i  4. 


he    had 


I ,  ■  1,  i  C         i 


. ;.  t       i%K 


o  \j'\i'\.\.  al  v"»  ui^  iiUL   LUu  iate 


thus  drifa^J  i:a 


a  a  ay 


WXVQiX 


1 1  %  i '...  i » 


1  u. 


ton  aramst  ac  r 


1  i  ;    V, 


sa^ 


to     which     tba^\ 


rned  Arlin^- 
;e   the 
looped,    ill 


i  i  ^  1    1 


92 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


THE  RIVALS. 


93 


oi dur  lu  unit  iicr  and  the  king  in  in  amorous 
liaison.  "  Arlington,"  de  Pomponne  was  in- 
I  riri  :d,  neither  likes  nor  esteems  Mile,  de 
Kt  ruLialle,  and  reproaches  her  with  having  as 
soon  forgotten  t' e  oblirations  he  conferred  on 
her,  as  aiu  ni  die  orood  dinners  she  has  eaten/' 
The  Vv--n^:\\  ambassador  was  defeated  in 
conflict.  Louise,  it  is  lin.c,  had  lu  give 
ner  protdgdes}    who    became    nuns    of    the 


L  .   .   .    ■" 


Visitatiuii, 


ana 


to   accept    ]\i 


icatrice    of 


Modena.  \\iin)i;i  James  decided  to  marry.  She 
next  applied  iicr  skill  to  bringing  to  a  happy 
issue  an  affair  of  great  importance  to  herself. 

A I  tin  end  nf  1672  Aide,  de  Keroualle, 
through  die  i  i  1  di  Hmbassy  and  de  Pom- 
ponne,^ p  t*ti')ned  the  King  of  France  for 
leave  to  Lccuine  an  i^nglish  subject,  and  *'  so 

1  Louis  the  Fourteenth  was  formally  against  the  Elboeuf 
match.  "  I  have  reasons,"  he  said,  "  which  would  make 
such  a  marriage  disagreeable  to  me,  and  I  therefore  hope 
you  will  adroitly  apply  yourself  to  cause  hitches  so  that  it 
will  never  take  place"  (the  king  to  Colbert,  April  12, 
1673).  The  Duchess  d'Elboeuf — nee  Elisabeth  de  la  Tour 
— was  married  in  1656,  and  died  in  1688.  Fran^oise 
Marie,  whom  Louise  de  Keroualle  wished  to  be  married  to 
the  Duke  of  York,  and  Marie  Eleonore,  the  two  daughters 
of  the  duchess,  became  sisters  of  the  Visitation. 

2  Colbert  to  Pomponne,  Jan.  30,  1673. 


4 


benefit  by  the  gifts  and  honours  which  King 
Charles  wanted  to  lavish  on  her."  Soon  after, 
she  received  the  titles  of  Baroness  if  Peters- 
field,  Countess  of  Farnham,  and  Duchess  of 
Pendennis,  a  title  which — nobody  knows  why — 
was  immediately  changed  to  that  of  Duchess 
of  Portsmouth.  The  promise  was  given  that 
in  a  few  days  she  was  to  be  a  lady  of  the 
bedchamber,^  and  thus  rank  as  high  as  any  of 
the  older  mistresses  who  vr^rc  duchesses. 
Her  elevation  gave  umbrage  both  to  Court 
and  town  ;  and  she  and  her  strawberry  leaves 
were  made  the  subject  of  ribald  lampoons. 
But  much  as  she  prized  an  Fmglish  ducal 
coronet,  she  would  have  valued  more  a  stool, 
or  taboit7'et,  of  duchess  in  the  1  resence-chamber 
at  the  Court  of  Versailles  \  h  ir  he  had 
played  such  a  humble  part  L,,i  a  iw  years 
before. 

The  tabouret  was  the  highest  object  of  a 
Frenchwoman's  ambition  in  the  seventeenth 
century.  Not  until  Marie  d'Arquien,  the  wife 
of  John  Sobieski,  had  become  Queen  of 
Poland,  did  she  cease  from  strh-inq'  to  obtain 
a  tabouret  at  the  Court  of  the  Louvre.  **  To 
1  Colbert  to  Pomponne,  Aug.  7,  1673. 


I 


!  / 


in 


94 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


think,"  cried  \\'-x  husband,^  "how  she  longs 
f  r  that  miserable  stool,  on  which  nobody  can 
sit  it  oase ! "  When  she  was  queen,  she  kept 
the    title    oi     rVench    duke    for    her 


sohcitiiig 
father,  and 


importunities  forced    Louis 


V    i 


r^\'  V 


\.'.. 


\^*.     -.     i    i 


':^;'  thrrv^^h  his  ambassador  at 
Lit  he  rco^retted  to  be  obHo^ed  to 
j  lit  repugnance  to  grant  the  Mar- 
:ien    a    dig^nitv    which    he    had    so 


i.  I  i  i. 


the 


i  I  t  i  i  i  . 


that   he  was   astonished   at 
i'  'hnd   continuing  to  ask  it  for 


King   of    Poland    was    not   an 


important  Li  tr  r  in  the  policy  of  Louis,  the 
King  of  Fnjland  was  such  a  necessary  ally 
that  his  favourite  was  to  be  regarded  as  having 
merited  no  i  ;  tter  what  high  dignity.  The 
first  step  to  the  tabozcret  would  be  to  obtain 
the  ducal  fief  "f  Aubigny.  The  negotiations 
on  t^i>  matter  were  soon  grot  through. 

\\\  July,  It; 3  Charles  spoke  to  Colbert  of 
''  his  desire  that  Mile,  de  Keroualle  should 
be  granted   the  fief,  not  only  for  her  life,  but 

1  Letter  of  John  Sobieski  to  his  wife,  May  ii,  i668. 

2  The  Bishop  of  Beauvais  to  the  Marquis  de  Vitry,  Dec. 
10,  i68o. 


I 


THE  RIVALS. 


95 


that  she  might  be  able  to  transmit  it  to  her 
son.^  He  would  take  care  that  it  should  not 
pass  from  her  posterity  oi  btuart  blood.  Col- 
bert, who  was  in  the  thick  of  the  strueele 
against  the  Elboeuf  ladies,  was  astounded  at 
this  intimation,  and  exasperated  at  the  im- 
pudence of  Louise,  in  demanding  a  French 
Crown  land.  But  he  felt  oblioed  to  con-imu- 
nicate  what  Charles  said  to  him  to  De  Pom- 
ponne,  and  did  so  in  the  following  terms  :  **  I 
own  I  find  her  on  all  occasions  so  ill-disposed 
for  the  service  of  the  kino^,  and  showine  such 
ill- humour  against  France  (whether  because 
she  feels  herself  despised  there,  or  whether  from 
an  effect  of  caprice),  that  I  really  think  she 
deserves  no  favour  of  his  Majesty.  But  as  the 
King  of  England  shows  her  much  love,  and 
so  visibly  likes  to  please  her,  his  Majesty  can 
judge  whether  it  is  best  not  to  treat  her  accord- 
ing to  her  merits.  An  attention  paid  to  her 
will  be  taken  by  the  King  of  England  as  one 
paid  to  himself.  I  have,  however,  told  him 
upon  what  conditions  alone  the  fief  could  be 
granted,  and  what  he  asks  is  just  the  con- 
trary." 

^  Colbert  to  Pomponne,  July  17,  1673. 


1 

I 


96 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


The  estate  of  Aubigny-sur-Nievre,  hi   Hjrri, 
ha^I    1.  -n    raised    to   a   ducal    fief   in    11^2.   bv 


i. ) 


Charl.>    \'li.,    in    i.v\^-^\:.x  of    John    Siuarl,    w  i 
Sf"■^\"^•■l   iiiv^T    tint    i:!!V''.      Tt   wa--    t/)    retinal    to 


the    Cl%;\Vil 

wiio  was    t 
th.e    lovebs' 


b  lauiC'': 


b. 


1  )acne^s  <  ^ 
aUa:^h  Ir-  ^r 
posscs^inn 
iiut  \  el  recognise 
Colbert  tiiat   th' 


aT  '^■a 


,        .     ,       ,  ,      ,     . 

ivh  aaa  av.  a   luisband   kA 

Aabaau    L,a\-t^a    a*    aie 

!a    ii   aniild   ])e  detached 

a    ;a  laa  and  otq  into  tlie 

wij  s  \\-:r-   a  }'f'ar  old,  aiai, 
lAarles.      Arlino-t-n  told 


a  nose 


r 


\'  \^ 


I  I  I    !'    H 


Ilia  a  a  '  i- 


1 , 

i  !  ^ 


i  i  U  ^  i  i      u 


■u  \\  i  i  <  1 1  __ 


II'-:     I 


was 


lui 


caaLla    and    had    remarked     to    lia^    ,\a')rney- 

Gt/n'Mad.  wia-i.  ia-  was  drawin?'  aj.  a:-  natents 
(jf  a'.)bUit\  a.. a"  L^^  a--  .aai.  a  o'  ia-i-  childreia  bail 
the  boa  \\\  (existence  couuj  ri^a  iiia<„rit  tlieni. 
X'  V      ihele^r,  Colberi   liimsaJ    aa  <  a  a  solution. 

i  ['•    aroTiQ^cd  a  dnnati-ai  ^'f  Aabio-n\'  in  favair 


«":> 


O  i     t .  i  (. 


1  U.caL.:i:7  y-i  r-rtsmoulr:,  waia  reversion 
to  aav  natarai  child  of  the  kinof,  whom  he 
shouaa  appoira  lu  succeed  ia^r.  bi  this  way 
sao  would  la  t  become  a  French  duchess,  and 
\\u.;ld  ^aaily  receive  a  ducal  estate. 

1  Colbert  to  Pomponne,  August  29,  1673. 


THE  RIVALS. 


97 


Colbert's  suggestion   was    in    parr  adoptedd 


]>al  wldle  ! 


.i<  t 


b    CJUili'eL:     Id    i! 


a-   acid    oecome  an   cncan-  ir^ 
I  ii' '  \\  \  )r,-j^  la,.-  aa 
<:x\c.r   which    \\V.: 


!  n 


a;    naa.]- 


:r^ 


ijaaa-  a 


I    ! 


(f     a  '  f  '■  n  ■      r- 


1 1' 


,  ^^     i,  •  U ; 


know  how    m   Iaa!^a^    use 


and 


1  i  1  ^^      V  \  1 1  \  . 


liioy  soon  bocam^^  niataallv  dAagreeable.  At 
a  Liiia'  wnen  laneaaiii  iiiivi  i'  aaaca  were  Cv_aa- 
bintd  against  A  Aaa]  tla^  rnn*tar\-  FiiMichmen 
Court  ui   \\  iati'ii.ai  were  tiiuue'ht  more 


L        Lit'. 


1  r    ' 


1 

*-    i  ^ 

Li:* 


I.  i.  i    i    J  i  I  <  . 


n  •  >■!  ■ 


<  Kill  L 


d'Kstrees,  who  coiiaaaadcd  lia^  French  fleet, 
iai!  an  tlie  hearts  of  English    aii  >rs.     Charles 

\\>-nt  on  board  Ids  aaL^wldpa  aocomnaniod  bv 
Conite  Ca.uiiA-:-,,  tu  w  a  .oa  iu  aad  criveu  a 
pen'^ion  of  aooo  crowns. 

d  las  CanajjAs  iuiu  tjaiaincd  leave  to  serve 
in  llio  Fnglish  an^iw  lie  was  a  brother  (C 
i\birsia.i  0;*  Lreqii\\  aia ' 
and  imbecile  aoarai-r.      At 


i  V    .,  i 


^.  *    '.  ) 


ji    ai  a  no* 
seven  I  \  ■ 


^  The  patent  of  grant  is  dated  December,  1673,  ^"^^  ^s  to 
be  found  in  the  archives  Des  Affaires  I  :>  aiigeres^  Angleierre^ 
tome  cviii.,  fol.  :  3  ;      aie  paiciii  it  crct  lusa  into  a  duchy  is 

ciaicd  JaniMry  1004.      it  is  in  the  aNaauiiai  .VrciiiVc-,  ica.  o, 
I,  28,  xA.   15. 

'^  lUa>\   IxAr-TiX  -  Correspondence  t..  ii^.  p    -57- 


98 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE 


Til",  t"  r    ! 

i    i   A  <.  A.  *.     i     i 


.1 


!if'  It  t  :  !  lis  live  in  France,  he 
iit' I  ^:  Marshal  cle  \^'v-nne, 
!i  who  knew  him  i/\^  hiN  tarUiiy 
rrcovcred  huaiih.  '•  Canaples,  who,"  >i:Lu.i!i;o 
de  Sevi'^ni'^  wroto  to  l^rr  dau^^hter,  '  liad  been 
cut,  liaik'_u,  ahJ  carved  up  again  by  tie 
doctors,  -urv'\ed  his  four  brothers  and  died 
ul   uid  age. 

Charles  preferred  to  this  valetudinarian  a 
iiephr^w  of  de  Tur^^nne,  Louis  Duras,  whom  he 
createu  i  mi  i  :  1  eversham,  and  made  his  boon 
cc'ini  anion,  I  \  vrrsham  took  such  a  part  in 
iii-.  anui  I  inmii  li:  u  (^  ibert  warned  de  Pom- 
!  onne  to  k-pn  well  wiiii  him,  because  his  help 
(.  u  1  not  iic  dmnensed  with.     iHis  orood  fortune 

i  rench  noblemen  on  the  Court 

It  became  the  fashion  in    Paris 

a  -n.      11;     Frenchmen  of  Pucking- 

cere  ui   a:^  much  impon  i:ur   \x\  the 

uis  as  c  f  Charles.      Since  Parliament 

'a-ia   Uackingham  \\  Mil   pojiiilarity 

a  L\     a   li  '     House  of  Commons 

Anc^lican  Church  and    tho   Pro- 

aai   Mates  oi    hart  pe.      iHe  was  too  cle\ai 

I  o-'lon   thus  gained    an  1  often 
went  back  tu  lii^   i  lench  friends.     Saiiii  L\ic- 


caa^t 


X\ 


w 


e}M 
liad 


»\   1 


.  O     w  ^ 


1  "1 


n    Qi  1 


^1    1-a 


777£"  RIVALS. 


99 


mond  did  Colbert  a  service  In  bringing  round 
the  Duke  of  Buckingham  to  him,  and  aided 
him  with  much  wit  and  address  in  keeping 
them  friends.  The  wit  of  Saint  Evremond 
was  kept  bright  by  the  gift  of  a  snuff-box,  with 
the  portrait  of  the  King  of  France  on  the  lid, 
worth  twenty-eight  thousand  livres  tournois. 
To  nrevent  Arlington  feelinof  envious,  another 
snuff-box,  to  which  a  cHamond  ring  was  added, 
was  sent  him.^  Buckingham  was  revolving  in 
his  head  a  financial  scheme  of  the  greatest  con- 
sequence, and,  encouraged  by  Louis's  bounty 
and  amiable  condescension,  he  had  his  project 
submitted  to  that  monarch  by  the  Marquis  de 
bessac. 

The  Marquis  de  Sessac  had  most  of  the 
faults  of  the  Chevalier  de  Gramont,  without 
his  charming  wit.  iHe  was,  like  him,  rash, 
presumptuous,  and  meddling.  Aiicr  he  was 
banished  from  the  Court  of  France,  he  took 
refuge  in  London,  where  he  attempted,  as  did 
uramont,  tu  make  a  fortune  in  gambling.  De 
^k  ssac  had  large  coffers,  which  were  often 
sudden! v   filled   with    gold,   and    as    frequently 

1  MiGNET  :   JSegociaiious  de  la  Succession  d'Espagne,  t.  iv., 
p.  48. 


lOO 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


emptied  in  a  single  night.  The  Duke  of 
Buckinglkii..  r-iruck  up  a  friendship  with  him, 
and  offered  to  sell  himself  and  his  party  to 
the  King  of  France  for  a  respectable  sum. 
The  operation  was  to  be  effected  unknown  to 
the  French  embassy,  Buckingham  having  still 
in  him  a  little  of  that  hypocrisy  which  is  a 
tribute  to  virtue.  But  Colbert  de  Croissy 
could  not  be  kept  long  in  ignorance  of  this 
bargain,  which  he  was  unable  to  approve. 
''Votes  are  only,"  he  wrote,^  "to  be  obtained 
by  parading  hatred  of  France.  Let  us  enter- 
tain no  illusion  on  that  score.  It  must  not 
be  imagined  that  with  two  hundred  thousand 
cruwii:^  we  can  bring  so  great  a  body  to  follow 
a  course  which  reason  should  alone  dictate. 
A-  M  iisieur  de  Sessac  takes  pleasure  in  big 
talk  about  himself,  and  in  giving  himself  im- 
poitan:^^,  -^  v"  risks,  in  drawing  close  to  his 
friend  ik.ckingham,  to  offend  Arlington." 

D  Sessac  went  secretly  to  Marshal  de  Bell- 
k>ri  -  a  \  ersailles,^  to  announce  to  him  that 
ii  in  charo^ed  to  submit    t-^    Louis  an  affair 

^  Colbert  to  King  Louis,  Nov.  27,  1673. 
^  In   uctober,   1673.      See  instructions  to  De  Ruvigny, 
Ajj.  Etr.  Angleterre^  tome  ex.,  fol.  127. 


' 


THE  RIVALS, 


lOl 


of  the  highest  importance  for  the    State,   but 
that  he  could  only  communicate  it  to  the  king. 
He  refused  to  see  De  Pomponne,  the  Secretary 
on  Foreign  Affairs.      At  length  a  royal  audi- 
ence was  granted  him,  and   he  handed  Buck- 
ingham's letter  to  the  king.     The  duke,  in  that 
paper,  said  he  was  ready  for  ever\thing.     But 
it  was  essential  that  he  should  gain  some  mem- 
bers of  Parliament,  and  it  would  be  necessary 
for  the    Kine  of   France    to    create  a  fund  in 
London  to  provide  for  the  expense  of  buying 
members  of   the    House  of    Commons.      The 
opposition    of    Parliament    to    the    Court    pre- 
sented such  dangers,  that    Louis  judged  well 
to  enter  into   the   relations  with    Buckingham, 
and  sent  to  England,  as  secret  negotiator,  the 
Count  de  Ruvigny,  whom  he  intended  should 
a   Aw    weeks    later   supersede   Colbert        The 
choice  of  De  Ruvigny  was  a  good  one.       He 
was  a  soldier,  elderly,  respected,  and  the  recog- 
nised chief  a  the  Reformed  Church  of  France, 
Several  marriages  had  united    his  family  and 
of    the    Russells,    who    wer^    all-powerful 


">•'-.  it 


Aiih  the  Encylish    Protestants. 


1   t  i  "^ 


son    was 


1  After  the  revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes,  he  was 
naturalized    English,    and    became    Lord   Galloway;    and, 


I02 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


boni  in    Kn.  '  1:1  1.      Ruvigin   was  of  high  birth, 

t,   an-.i   >in,^i:h:-'\-   clever.       In-   rrcuiiciled 


J]'  ai 


rxcf:^T)Un:i;i 


11'; 


,,-:.i. 


1. 


O'Vi  '-it 

^^   .    •     -.It 


1    ■        "!  t    ^  i 


.:^ 


ail  1  icrtihty  of  resource  and  social 


ta-: 


1  >  . 

I V I  i  \  a 


n 


\     wa.     ai>-raicted     tu     concert     with 
'-^.--•■:l  -'■'  i  In--  .Uaiaai^;  J*'  S-jssac.^      H^    was 
^^<  i  t    in    lia^    dark    about    the    interviews    the 
latter  had  with  the    in  ng  of  T  ranee.      <  Mie  of 
the  orders  he  ua^   ^i\'  n  was,  to  deceive  Hack- 
'^^J^-    '    i;     avJang   him    believe    that    Charles 
knew    n^^thing    of    his     scheme.       But     Louis 
judged    well,    w^iile   Buckinghaan   was   lu    think 
"hat  close  secresy  was   being   observed,   to  in- 
^'--  I  '  -  aa  aa  rch  of  what  had  been  negotiated 
through  De  Sessac.     i  iie  knavery  t    which  Louis 
resorted    was    :.u    ni ainple   and    shamefiii,   liiat 
Ruvigny  wa^  to  read  over  and  over  his  instruc- 
1^!''^n>.  ;taa  a    make  a  prdcis  of  them,  to  show  he 
understood    tin  ni    but  to  be  allowed  no  cup). 
Louis   ''thought   it  too  dangerous  to    let  them 
be   takaii  aaaa   a^    i^ngland    in    writing.       His 

in   the   \\  ^i    of   the    Spanish   Succession,  commanded  the 
EngHsh  army  which  was  sent  to  operate  in  Portugal. 
'   Tome  ex.,  fol.   i  r- .  Nov.  4,  1673. 


C> 


THE  RIVALS, 


103 


^Aau'-A)  wished  tia/ni 
un    Rai\aan\-'-^    iiiaaj. 


rail\   lu  ul 


.,,.., a  I 
t  (  a  J  i  i  s 


iIllprc^>^ud 


by 


i    V  ,  (  •_  'v,  I  :  i  I  ,_         i.  i 


la i  1]' s  at L'/i u w* a \', 


»> 


Thus,  in  liif  wnn^a*  wina!]  'M,-|.aiaina]   tht^  two 


lamat  ^aun 


1 . ' 


'Oaa'nt 


to  buy  the  King  oi  lingland  and  tin  lauai ana  in  ; 
the  kna^  bv  the  subventw, an.  iA  Uu^  seari.w 
treat),  an  the  gift  of  Xiik:,  r^tan  ^A  Aubigny 
to  tin.'  i  hichess  of  Fortamontli  •  arvl  the  P..a'- 
liamciii  liirougli  Buckingham.  Ruvi^-ny  said 
of  It   that  it  was  "a  filthA   tiafnw"^ 

All  Europe  had  im  ia;d  against  France  in  167^, 
t\  wi  to  the  Prussians  of  Brandenburg,  w  a*  i  a  1 
haaked  out  of  an  allianae  wiiii  tiu^  Dnicii  the 
moment  they  were  attacked."     Spain  overcame 


Inw^    1 


aarrm 


OT 


f     Protestantisii 


*   T 

1  rl  1 1 


ill     sKiino^    wata 


1  i  5 '  a .  a 


!id.  Far  up  in  the  North,  Louis  had 
takrn  Maestricht,^  and  in"  was  silently  pna^aring 
to  seize  on  the  Franche  Comte  and  the  Pala- 
tinate. His  frontiers  were  being  widened,  and 
his  armies  increased.     Suddenly,  at  nu-  decisive 

1  Ruvigny  expressed,  in  a  letter  to  King  Louis,  dated 
Xuv,  -7,  1673,  disgust  at  being  an  agent  in  such  dirty- 
affairs,  and  seemed  to  doubt  of  their  cvf^ntual  success 
because  of  their  immorality. 

^  See  Rousset's  Histoi) e  de  Louvois,  t.  ii.,  i     - 

3  June  29,  1673. 


I04 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


c 


t(* 


•    T^nglani   i  eginning 


-i.^. 


1  ii-  cilarm  was  l:v n  I \   Comte    ir    trades, 
v.h)   wrotr^    from    London   v':h     i    ckarness  of 
111-^-     tii.L     wa.     iruly    marvellous:^     *' The 
Englisii    ilo    not    think    themselves    In:;  \    by 
ii'vaU^j-.      ii   uif-\   ..if'    uiice  lenorupd  w'la  b.-ain, 
the  Empire,  ana    N  .Hand,  nobody  ot  our  gen- 
■  -a  I  he  end  of  this  w  n.'* 
t      this  period  of  the  reign      f    Charles, 
n  ii    iM--j'n<    of    Fn-land    had    been 
:n^    liicmselves   against    R     n m    la    :  .ii 
t!y^    l,nrrl    Treasurer    Clifford    anti 


Uli 


i    1  ',   I    L 


CI 


Ulr 


w 


nrH:i! 


\  ( ^  n  1  a  n  I. 


a-r.    latvi     t(_)    resio-ji    Liicir 
a:    more    could    be     :   a^ 
.itholics,  the  whole  tide  « > 


ul 


,1 


now' 
(  ai 
C.C,-...- 


I  agai'iNt  Fna;.;e. 


■■';  "    ^'H    '\-.'nich    l\na.'inn\'   siircoprha] 

..mbassador,    Ca. tries  was    paui    ia:> 

iu    nah     a        t    Iwres?  and  he   '  f 

u^   whicii 

iu>  [.fO  dishaian-i.i,      i ;■ 


tne  re^mi 


V>  a:->      LU     IvCaL? 


F 


-onghani,  w  ]a> 


^  See  Rousset's  Histoire  de  Louvois,  t.  ii.,  p.  278. 


2   ' 

J 


3  ^rIaNET:    Negociaiions  relatives  a  la   Succession   dTs^ 

pagne,  t.  vi.    p    254. 


.^ 


J 


r//^  RIVALS, 


10: 


sell  his  sovereign  at  a  high  price,  was,  of  all 
tho  political  men  of  the  day,  the  hardest  used 

by  Parliament.  La  i\  Shrewslana  ins  Roman 
Ca^h  n  Mf  '' Popish '' mistress,  was  i  wn  in 
lii-  face;  and  his  Canaanitish  \icr.,  his  debts, 
ana  nis  dishonesty  were  all  the  subject  ol   acri- 

-  auacks.  \\i-  ij^nt  beneatli  ila^  blast; 
1.   with   the  suppleness  of  a  man   who   has 

a  a    liian  stoutness  of  heart  or  firmness 


I L  /  i 


of    character,   veered   round   and    chanwd    his 

•  a  '"^  livincr.  He  broke  with  \au-  f:i:thful 
Countess  of  aa'ewsbur),  whu  retired  to  a  cun- 
vont  at  Danlnrk,^  made  ii|:)  !iL  aaarrc!  u  ith  his 
wife,  and  adopted  the  Biblical  !  raaseolo^^v  and 
nasal  twang  of  the  Paritans.  The  Protestant 
in  Ruvienv  reported  the  sudden  ciaiv^rsion,- 
vaa  :i  was  shown  in  regular  aiu  adance  at  the 
serviLf-  (j1  lia-  Episcopal  Church  waii  his  wife, 
in  his  methodic  attention  to  his  expenses,  in  the 

1  Ruvigny  to  Pomponne,  Jan.  29,  1674.  Her  son, 
Charles  Talbot,  Earl  of  Shrewsbury,  became,  on  the  con- 
trary, the  idol  a  the  people,  because  of  his  manly  beauty 
and  Anglican  fanaticism.  He  was  created  a  duke  by 
Wilh'am  ITT,  and  led  the  coup  d'Etat,  when  Queen  Anne 
was  dymg,  which  secured  the  throne  to  the  House  of 
I  Ian. A. r. 

'^  Idem,  Sept.  10,  1674. 


io6 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


pa\  in  :;c  of  debts^  and  in  the  order  established 

^^nus^h  -Id  all  of  ^vhich  made  h'm  popu- 
.  iuHowed  Buckingham  m  yielding 
!  res-iire,    ar  1    concluded   a   peace 


in     n  ! 


let  I 


.1 1 


to 


t     W    i  >     ,  1    !     i    -  1    «■- 


V.  til  Holland.  But  he  did  not  yet  break  with 
i  I  I'lce,  a;  :  .  n  ]  fi  King  Louis  the  English 
reguiKjiiu  wiiich  were  in  his  pay,  abroad. 
"^li"  ihe  sit  ti  1  was  most  critical.  The  best 
ac:'  !U  t  tin  1  rench  policy  in  England,  Louise 
de  Keroualle,  had  been  in  a  single  day  reduced 
to  impotenc}'. 


^  Ruvigny  to  Pomponne,  Feb.  i6,  1674 


CHAPTER    V. 


THE     DUCHESS    OF    PORTSMOUTH'S    FIRST 

CHECK. 

T\-  the  spring  of  1674,  just  when  another 
Erench  campaign  was  begun,  and  a  few  weeks 
before  the  battle  of  Seneffe,  Charles  got  tired 
of  his  Erench  shackles.  The  cause  was  well 
known  to  his  Court ;  and  the  austere  De  Ru- 
vigny said  what  it  was  in  plain  terms.  Plain, 
graphic  words  were  not  held  vulgar  at  the 
Court  of  Versailles.  Madame  de  Seviene  and 
the  Marshal  de  Richelieu  never  muffled  up 
disagreeable  things  in  weak  or  vague  expres- 
sions, and  were  as  free  from  prudish  niceness 
as  Moliere  or  Voltaire.  It  was  permissible  in 
good  society  m  the  17th  century  to  quote 
texually  what  the  Protestant  Ruvigny  wrote 
to  the  Jansenist  de  Pomponne,  in  a  letter 
which  was  to  be  read  by  Louis  the  Eour- 
teenth,   whose    Court    was    the    most    polished 

and  literary  in  Europe. 
•  107 


io8 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


''  I  have  a  thlnor  to  tell  you/   M unsieiir,   for 

the  kin/s  i!ii  r:  iition,  which  should  remain 
secret  i  long  as  it  pleases  his  majest)  lu  keep 
it  so,  because  if  it  gets  out  it  might  be  a  source 
of  unseemly  raillery.  \\  hilst  the  kino-^  was 
winning  provinces,  the  King  of  England  was 
catchino^  a  nulady  which  he  has  been  ai  uic 
trouble  of  communicating  to  the  Duchess  of 
Ik'  -  ■  uti  f  h  11  ;:  nice  is  nearly  cured  ;  but 
t  aH  a])|)earance  the  lady  will  not  so  soon 
la  rid  of  t a  \  r  a  She  has  been,  however, 
i:i  .1  degree  consoled  for  such  a  troublesome 
present  by  one  more  suitable  to  her  charms 
—  a  pear!  necklace,  wurdi  four  thousand 
jacobus,  and  a  diamond  worth  six  thousand, 
which  a.i\e  so  rejoiced  her  i'  a  [  should  not 
^ •  ■  ^  -'  '^  -^^  ^-^^  i'^^e,  she  were  not  willino- 
tu  r:  k    11   tk   r  attack  of  the  disease." 

Ihe  :  a  la.  akch  came  from  Louis,  must 
have  been  u'^t  id  at  a  i-nment  when  the  clerks 
M  rJi  I'  xchequer  refused  a,  pay  the  favourites' 
^^'^^"-^       I>^-^^     --'    fn^-rorl    separation     frnni    the 

^    Ma    ^  h   i  a  4j  fol.  20I. 

2  Ruvigny  invariably  spoke  of  Louis  as  "the  King,"  and 
Ui  Chp.rles  as  "the  King  of  England." 

^  In  a  letter  of  -  :  11  -tubbs  to  Lord  Kent,  dated  Sept. 
28,   1673,  and  preserved  in   Lord   Shaftesbury's  library  at 


DUCHESS  OF  PORTSMOUTH'S  FIRST  CHECK.  109 

king,  which  the  prolonged  bad  health  of  the 
Duchess  of  Portsmouth  occasioned,  aroused 
competition,  and  spurred  on  all  the  rivals  to 
abuse,  and  try  to  supersede  her.  The  doctors 
said  she  ought  to  go  to  Tunbridge^  for 
the  waters.  She  hired  a  house  there,  but  on 
her  arrival  found  the  Marchioness  of  Wor- 
cester settled  in  it  for  the  season.  The 
D  ichess  reminded  the  intruder  that  the  law 
was  against  her,  and  what  duty  she  owed  to  a 
lady  who  was  a  degree  above  her  in  the  peer- 
age. Thereupon  the  Marchioness  replied,  that 
the  titles  women  earned  by  prostitution,  had 
no  effect  upon  persons  of  quality  and  sense. 
She  derided  the  Duchess  about  her  former 
gallantries  with  De  Sault,  and  Hamilton.  To 
compensate  Louise  for  this  public  humiliation, 
Charles  sent  a  detachment  of  the  Household 
Guards  to  escort  her  in  pomp  to  Windsor, 
where  he  placed  her  under  the  treatment  of 
his  physician  Crimp. 

Long   after    a   cure    was    effected,    she   was 

St.  Giles,  he  says  :  "  Neither  Madam  Kerwell's,  nor  the 
Duchess  of  Cleveland's,  nor  Nell  Gwynn's  warrants  will  be 
accepted." 

^  Diplomatic  note  of  August  16,    1674,   vol.   cxiv.,    fol. 
119. 


I  lO 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


DUCHESS  OF  PORTSMOUTH'S  FIRST  CHECK,  iii 


ashamed  of  the  accident,  and  for  years  after 
v-ac  in  the  habit  of  gently  reminding  the  guilty 
Charles  of  the  injury  and  disgrace  he  had  in- 
flicted on  her.  ^^  ■  lade  him  blush  for  him- 
self before  the  different  confidential  ao-ents 
whoiii  I  ouis  afterwards  st  ;:l  to  England.  One 
of  Ruvigny's  successors  describes  a  scene  in 
which  she  raked  up  the  scandal  to  confound 
Charles :  -  i  tell  you  privately,  and  in  the 
hope  that  it  will  not  travel  further,  how  three 
days  ago  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth  in  my 
t'ivsence  attacked  the  king  about  his  infideli- 
ties. She  did  not  hide  from  me  what  she  had 
suffered  two  years  ago  from  his  misconduct  with 
trulls  ;  and  he  himself  then  described  to  me 
how  his  head  doctor  had  prescribed  for  her."^ 

The  Duchess  of  Portsmouth  found  some 
consolation  in  the  arrival  of  her  sister,  whom 
she  turned  into  a  means  of  securing  herself 
English  allies.  Henriette  de  Keroualle  ar- 
rived in  London  in  May,  1674.  Ruvigny 
reported  to  his  Court  that  she  was  a  youno- 
girl  ui  iiui  more  than  ordinary  attractions ; - 
t-:it  >]i'    crossed  the  sea  alone  with  the  gentle- 

^  Courtin  to  Louvois,  Dec.  27,  1674. 
2  Ruvigny  to  Pomponne,  May  12,  1674. 


I 


I 


I 


man  who  was  sent  in  a  yacht  to  fetch  her  from 
Brest,  and  that  on  landing  she  was  given  a  pen- 
sion of  six  hundred  pounds  sterling  a  year.  She 
was  not  long  in  finding  a  noble  husband,  the 
Earl  of  Pembroke,  who  was,  Ruvigny  also  re- 
ported to  the  Court  of  Versailles,  more  ill,  and 
from  the  same  disease,  than  Charles  had  been, 
but  who  thouo^ht  himself  cured. ^  The  kino^, 
besides  the  pension,  gave  the  bride  a  marriage 
portion. 

Louis  did  not  abandon  Louise.  She  had 
the  address  to  be  reserved  in  askine  him  for 
favours,  and  went  on  feeling  her  way. 

Her  main  desire  was,  to  obtain  the  taboitret, 
to  which  the  ducal  fief  of  Aubigny  would  give 
her  a  right.  But  she  contrived,  with  the  finest 
art,  to  put  on  Ruvigny  to  prepare  the  way 
for  future  claims  on  the  generosity  of  Louis.^ 
*'  I  write,"  he  said,  **  to  your  Majesty  at  the 
prayer  of  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth,  w^ho  is 
uneasy   about   a   blunder   of  the    Marquis    de 

1  Letter,  dated  Westminster,  Dec.  19,  1674,  in  the 
possession  of  Mr.  T.  Stamford  Raffles,  13,  Aberciomby 
Street,  Liverpool :  "  Her  sister  was  on  Thursday  married  to 
the  Earl  of  Pembroke,  he  being  pretty  well  recovered  from 
his  *  *   *  .     Tiie  king  pays  the  wedding  portion." 

2  Ruvigny  to  Pomponne,  March  15,  1674. 


lI2 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


Ai 


|| 


Danaeau.^    \\hic;i   i)laces  her  \:\    i     vronof  liaht. 

b.u:  lui'i  Lh'S' >u._^ ill  ji;ni.  Sif;^,  to  cnn\'n\-  to  xnu 
no'A"  inucii  :,;ic  taivcr^  lu  ii(jai"i  tiu-  nUiox'^U  oi 
your  sor\'!CO  ;  wiih  wiiat  Z'''al  >\v:  lo^ks  aftrr 
iheni,  and  what  a  [.)a:?:-ionaic  desire  ^he  lias  to 
('arn  \-oiir  Mait:st\-"s  conlldrncc.  l)ut  instead 
ot  that  she  has  been  iniV>rnvd  l)\-  the  marqni-. 
Idnistdi  that  he  incr'-i\-  soi^'it-d  iov  licr  the 
pri'iin^e  ot  a  tauouiiL  wian  >he  wnahJ  l:'<>  leii^k 
to  hrance.      She  Lch>  nie  tiiat  liaT.-   is  ^o  littir 


encinLtj  ot    tnis.  tnat 


nas   cr^asrO    to    iiopo    {(.>!' 


it:  tnit  tnat.  bem^"  in  ci  ['n^^nioa  ^tni  to  -(O'et: 
}'^^er  Ahiji.st\'.  wiiat  >h'"'  wouM  nio^t  wis]]  wruild 
t^c    to    ijersnaile    )  ui 


11      O  i 


ia  W  !'i  h/i  I       ;  nlsra*  )i  i 


witli  which  siie  is  na)\-('d  to  ;a:coni' w^n  \-our  be- 


h^'-i-.      I  or<-s 

the:Se      sentinitiUs.     \)\M 

cuu iO    Mot  iia!"«j   h )  e«  s 
ujv.w'A     fosot'Ct    tlen 

^.  V-'     Y     '-  ..    I     .  ,   1  i    1        t  I  .    1  I  i        1  i  i  I  I  .  ^  L  '       I    . 


<ai  la-r  to  \\a-;n:  hcrsr-n  to  ^wia'ess 


L  I  i    ■-    »  ■. 


t  '       '   '      I 


1 

>  a ' 


uecaLi:5e    ul    aa-    iq-o- 
eni^:rauiie  1     lor     her 


^^^i\^^^n    ^ii-    tiaewiii    tlu..:    tinio   was    n 


n-iaknie    her    dtanand 


Sll^^       st 


1    an near 

1  .. 


to. 


i      s      1    1 

1    iiiao 


bill  >      1  ., 

acR   \}\  moaebix',  cUkI   cLiwa\s   itiwlerrc^i  sn*  ak- 

^1  I, 


^     Ul'WWin    li.ul    O.) 
euT'  i    i  !.:u;'  ,  >  !aju_;n. 


>i\'\on    to   fiLrht   a   (hi':!    uai 


f ). 


DUCHESS  OF  PORTSMOUTH'S  FIRST  CHECK.  113 


ing  through  Charles  or  the  ambassador.  Fif- 
teen months  after  she  had  expressed  ikroaeh 
tie*   kwisa    ia-r  i^as-ioiiate   z^a,,:    \k^x    liu/    bh-ench 


i\  ni-   S    aarxwa-      the     Kor  ' 


ol      I'^li^UUWi   '    aaivL    tu 


Riivi^^;ny  tiiai  it  wouki  L.dve  liim  ]nue"!i  satisbu:- 
ti<jn  li  Loins  wouid  be  pk:asL:d  to  baatijw  the 
first  abba-)-  vacant  an  an  aunt  i>f  the  b)ncia:ss 
(at  i'ori-inaatln  bbnnc  Sa/aima  de  b!veuc  dc 
I  nncar,  a  aroiesSad  nan  in  liia  Ai.'biO"  kA 
i.ajaaT  ai  i  lannaitan,  m  iriO 
X^annes.      hi   con\a;\wa;    tins   ba 


i''  ^' 


(4 


1  n  ■  . 

K   I  1  \., 


LiCC(.a.u:    ua 


''■'  ■  na  '    no -s-ai.Te 

I  a.  i »  ;  i    ^  11  a  I  i  _  i  u,     ;  L    \  >  (J .,  1  i  V I     o  a     O  o  i ;  L  a      I O 

.  at  oMCe,  ana  waai  a  e*'Oa  ^race. 


.e   same  desnatcla'"  he   saai    laal 


,  ca    oie 


ro(ine:-L  (A  Uic  Ljuchess  oi  k'ortaniuatn,  tne  Kincr 
of  i-a-;;bnd  charged  Iiim  t^  recommend  t-  the 
king  her  raLuive,  ?vL  Lktiiact,  for  aa,_,  post  oi 
Sxndic  o(  the  States  «i  Ih-Aiimy,  Louis,  who 
d,ii.i»    nai    ia-o;    this    meddHno-    fn    affiirs   .it    his 

iS 

n)t?  rnal   administration,    iiabt^d    a    reproof    iw 


< ', ' 


naUxao;  no  allusion  na  ab  do  Lkhk3et  ni  an\  o 
his  daw  atches,  Ijat  sent  in'  return  of  lawn  .u\k 
sileniiw  a  oair  of  ])endani  dinirrrn 
the  favourite.      She  received  tiieni  wan  a  sho 

^  Ruvigny  to  Pomponne,  Jan    21,  1674. 
-  lie///,  Oct.  24,  1675. 


f 


to 


w 


/' 


114 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


A   thr   deepest  respt-l  aiM 


intercuts. 

Somr-tinics  Iv-r  a:* 
h!ie   la'uiL'iu  rajiciiic 

^h'j  \va^  a  raair  r'.;: 


zCca 


'n':at!c  ta'"a 


^,   and   re- 

r   master's 


O  v_  i  I 


!    ,  ■  ;   1  -  ■  !       •    ;    !  'S       r 


a    T )     a  . . .     1  ■      I        '  f  a  - :  , 


iX'c  ui    lac   Uc   Kuualio,"   saa 

a   nioLirnino"  whca   la"   Clievali'  r 


r  t  '  the  gibe; 


s  t  '  1  S   ^-^ 


t 


1    * 


ai 


J  •       ;  i   '        1    H 


!  !    •         i   I 


T^j  t-  1  f 


1  , 


1  (    f  '       I 


come  down   i  ) 
f  refined  taste 


LMa.    iia)'  L  a.uacs, 


at  hr-r  hoa^e.  cr)inplai!a'(1  nf  v;ant  ^-f  inoncy. 
On  licaraaa  naa,  ?\-u  uiicrcJ.  n-aii  a  loud 
laaal 


ta 


1 1 


mating  the 


^  Letter  in  the  Stamford  Raffles  collection,  dated  Dec. 
10.  I'  7:^  :  "She  is  in  deep  mourning  for  the  Chevalier  de 
iv.    iii,  as  being  forsoothe  of  kin  to  that  family." 

-  The  French  hold  punning  and  playing  upon  words  in  con- 
tempt, aid  also  any  sort  of  witticism  that  is  rudely  personal. 
Nell's  mot  showed  cleverness  and  an  intelligent  perception  of 
the  state  of  parties.  She  meant,  that,  to  please  Parliament, 
a^.  ixi  ]^  should  sacrifice  his  French  miss  (the  ragout),  Lau- 
derdale ^the  Scotch  collops),  and  Sunderland,  whose  face 
rcscM.  i-i  a  calf's,  and  who  was  said  to  be  in  the  ideas  of 
the  la  a:  kiiu.     {Translator's  Note.) 


\ 


DUCHESS  OF  PORTSMOUTH'S  FIRST  CHECK.  115 


a    i  rench   rac^out,   Scotch  collops,  and  a  calf's 

h 


^n,- 


111  ]'■ 


1  C  !   1 


wliich    "Sn    ninant    tlaii    iia   n^as   to 
K^chessof  i'oribiiiuaila  I.auder- 

wliM   wished 


da!.-     ^:,-v'-rL 

•-■  1 

and   e\a 

aiai    lo    r;  :\a\  r 

lii' 

■'   a^'--*"-'^ 

i. II liar,  lia     aaa 

i\a,/ 

caaiaa    f)\-    au: 

lataa^-    '^ 

ar\'    (an 


, ,  t    *. '  \ , . 


a: 


t  ka   .        i  V 


inp-    lU:^ 


a   -e  execution  was 

a\a:a,':-.'     1  haid    day." 
.'.all    ;>!'aised  at   tlie 

i  i  c   was 
J  a  den  mode  <?    speech; 

■  I   \\  jrds 


Laairles  lau^hei!.  .ivA    ....^.,    .......    , 

i'>k'\  aiai   thoiiHit  it  a  slirewd    one. 

used    10  her   a'vav^aa. 

arr  i   sh«^  was  not  n  vrnrnnn  ^a 

to  please  inm. 

Faa  Court  of  \^ersailles  watched  with  aniuse- 
aa  rn  the  French  harlot's  ijru.,ras^  at  White- 
hall      "Madame    de   Sevigne    records  some    of 

• 

liu:  echoes  ui  what  was  said  there  about  her. 
'' Keroualle,"  she  wrote,^  "saw  a,  H  ':  r  way, 
anJ,  has  naare  everything  sh^,-  \raha^:h  lar  C(Miie 
lo  pass.  She  a  anted  to  be  the  mistress  of  the 
ivai::;  nf  Fngland;  and  behold,  he  now  shares 
her  couch  before  the  eyes  of  the  whole  Court. 
She  wa^n'u  to  be  rich  ;  and  she  is  heaping 
up  treasures,  and  making  herself  feared  and 
courted.  But  she  did  not  fa-  see  that  a  low 
actress  was  lu  cross  her  path,  ana  lu  bewitch 

^  Sept.  ii,  1675  ;  t.  iv.,  p.  128. 


ii6 


'■"^^iClVSE   DE  KEROUALLE. 


the  king.     She  i. 


1    1 


'  ■> 


:  werless  to  detac'    ■  -^  \\'0\\\ 

11-    iiix'ides    his    v.v^xv\.    !:is 

The 


low-  actress  i:^  as  pro;: 


. .  1 


]    \\v    1 


^'-'■i!    ^^'aoni   ^iir    ]t;cr:3  at,  in 


of. 


.line 


vh, 


(^ften  la 


]n"aves    h-r    u 


*    f  ■> 


ill'. 


W'  \    llKi IV cs 


■  s  la*"   i\  a 


i  1 


Laat  hilt;   in   LiUj 


\'nua  ''' 


,  f    n^  a  cl  c  a  n 


'~^n  to 


t\\ 


1  s 


,(  i 


1   H 


S 


Ih 


.  :^ 


'^  %'f^u 


:g 


"^_ 


t^li  1 


a   raa.: 


^1 


hhe  sinq-s,  viaices, 


i.aaklv    iia.h 


♦  ,- 


M  )\-<* 


"! .  ■  1 '    a.  "■  1  ^  M 1 


^; 


nee 


Kerouaii'-    in--    a-cuaic  a   iav'uania,  (_i\'.'\;ai 


i  i 


son    a 


1  t  i  o. 


,  1 


sisn^    a:-'a    na-         _ 

Tla>    ir.    la-a    ^a^    argues:     '  Ta.^i     ;;•  hy-toity 

1  laaca  ilachess  set-  ap  to  be  oi   ;^rand  ([uaHty. 


Ever\'  o' 


:( '     ' 


1  ranee  i'=^   ^u^r  con 


aaanai  some  grand  lord  or  lady  over 
there  dies,  -he  orders  a  suit  of  deep  mourning. 
Well,  if  she's  of  such  high  station,  why  is  she 
such  a  jade  ?     She    oug^it    to  be  ashamed  of 

herself!      It    1  ^'-  no  reared  Ij  be  a  lau) ,  1  am 
surt:    I    sh(_oal    i)lush    f -r  myself.      I'st    it'-    an.- 


ti\f..:o   t^)  be  a  Josw  saa    1  \\..o   never  a 


\  ♦  n  1 


hm<^ 


1  Charles  Beauclerc,  the  son  of  Nelly,  was  born  before 
the  arrival  of  Louise.  He  was  recognised  by  Charles,  and 
created  Duke  of  St  Albans. 


DUCHESS  OF  PORTSMOUTH'S  FIRST  CHECK'.  117 


else.  The  king  keeps  me ;  ever  since  he  has 
dune  so,  I  have  been  true  to  hi  an      i  !'    iais  had 

a  son  -a  me,  and  V v.\  ^-sn^  to  make  laai  oasi 
liic  brat,  for  \\'-  is  a<s  fond  r^f  vwr  as  of  his 
French  miss.'  This  croataia,:  a^aa;-.  :a  r  .saa  in 
an  extna^a'claiarv  nnsnnor.  and  embarra-sas  aad 
discuiiCornD  ihc  new-fledo^ed   ducha>-/' 

T!io  degradiag  subjection   ia    nhica   Ciiarles 


wa:-  I 


aL  1 1  ob:^    a  vUi  J 


i  i  I ,.  I '.  ■ 


a;n 
I  he 


n«  sna^ai    IniLL   nut 
o.       i  ;ie  orame  of 


for  the  humiliations  which    in 
queen.      Poor    Csiiiassaa    <n 

:ie  consolation,  har  c.irnnan: 
basset  was  bar  nn\x  anmsenasit.-^  1  s:  lin^  ovon- 
inof  she  never  left  her  circle,  if  the  inner  did 
not  offer  her  his  hand  to  lead  her  to  her  cham- 
ber.^ She  w^as  often  ailing,  and  was  subject 
to  nervous  headaches,  so  severe  as  to  .  puzzle 
tiie  doctors,^  who  -^o  uiiaii  pureed  her,  lisn  the 
cure  was  more  perilous  than  the  disease. 

The    hierarchv    in    the    king-'s    seraglio    was 

^  The  Duke  of  York  to  the  Countess  of  Lichfield,  in  a 
leUer  in  the  possession  of  Viscount  Dillon  at  I  ^nchley. 

2  Ruvigny  to  King  Louis,  August  30,  1674.  The  ac- 
counts of  the  queen,  kept  from  1670  to  1703  by  Sir  R, 
Be'lings,  are  in  tlie  possession  01  i.'  la  Aaiadel  at  Wardour 
Castle. 

^  Ruvigny  to  Pomponne,  ALirch  28,  1675. 


t 


Ii8 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


child  r 


L 


J   1  V.  (..  I   ■   1   i 


vided  Mr. 

Tiv;  title  of  l)id;c  (^?"  Ivicluiiuinj  wa^  ren- 
dcR:d  vacant  by  tlu:  dt-adi.  in  in;:,  of  tlv.^ 
bountiful  Mi^s  Stuart's  hu-i)and.  ddh'  b)acii(:-s 
of  Pv)rtsniouth,  who  had  ol'tainod  ui!-  iiet  ot 
Auld  an',  asked  it  for  h'-r  son  Ciiarles.  I>iit 
silo  was  oiioo^od    i)\'  th?'   Pacho'-s  (^i  („  Ua'o.ano. 

I  )akr  (  A    ( irafKai  for 


whr^   wantoij    tho   titl-. 


A 


hor  i'lde-t  -on.  and  na-'Ocd  tii.o.  ia-  -la'ulh  ha\a^ 
tho  precedence  of  tiu'  in-a:  iA  a  bd'tneh  ia!--\\ 
aiiLL  taai  nor  e^inor  scjn  snt^aan  ^tauLl  ni/Xt  lO:? 
l-n^thf-r    in    tho    oo<-raao.       Clairl'':-^.    wlai    still 


feared  the  t< 


f  t 


.  U  i  '^,  I      L  V 


1        !    'I  i  »Ol 


"Tac*-  (^t  Ckwa;hind,  tre.^d  to  tarn  tie;  duncultN' 
by  rnakin;^  tht.:  twvj  ^d^  <M  ioeoard:^  dakeq 
siniukaue' aoiv'.      Ike    on^cedenco  depend':d  r-n 

the  [latent  that  wa:^  iir:-t  ^i^^nod.  d  lie  Ducio'ss 
of  Isjrt^najutio  wiin  w., .  ne  e-e  sh"  and  cii/Oer 
ti^M  ia.a'  rioaU.  ^rot  tkf  \j-^xA  dh-'-a-arr-r  to 
receive  her  tittunoj}-  cit  nkdnight,  ju-i  a-,  he 
was  steppinL^  into  Id:,  ceeadi  t(^  -v)  to  ILiliO  and 
atkx  the  seal  to  tie-  oat-nt-  of  kiie  !  )uk"  (=f 
Kiciiiia -nd.  Xeal  naeiean,:  the  la'/W"^s-  ^A  die 
bUieiie^-  ot    Ck,:\-teand    wait'-d    (> 


\    \     1     SIT 


was 


t'   "O     tw 


,  L         i  <  I  ^ 


^aeJ-ide    had    gone    1 


I ) 


T  ;  ■ 
i.  - 


DUCHESS  OF  PORTSMOUTH'S  FIRST  CHECK.  119 


t>  V  I,  i.  L  ■■._  i  .  J        -i.  I  >-  1    ■'  ■,  V  V  i  1  , 


As  lo  the   son  ot    X   k\.  Ik 


was    just    tia-n    only    le'sven    a    pr-nsina    iA    lour 


tiioas.aio    Oeunes   r^terere'   a,  x'^eir 


i  ,1  i  e   -L/  a  ^  i  1  \ 


V » 1.  i  i3  e  ■  s.  ^  ^  j  L  ^e  i    i  i  1 1  v 


1.J  i    O  I .     W  u  '  a  1  i 

C!iari-s,   tie::    new    Dake   "f    kiehnaei 
Loviai    a    >>ce)Lca woman    01     n 
Countess    kbu"eschal.    tor    Ins    La.:)\e'rne-s 


lilt       \ 


wa:^ 


w3  i  i  e 


\'v'as   acCv) 


a  >aiat'\'  ot    i\\s)  ju.aiar^.'a    a   \ 


( 'I 


daCcU   lanah'  (li   Richmonit, 


to 


tho'r   sons.    t!ii^ 


j^iw. 


i  X        4_Lii.iit*vi.i 


to   tlO/ir    iS-a":; 
nu.e.ah  w.r-,  lu  be  is 


xi-aaicr 
1)0^1 'Uw-i  tile  .swal-^ 

\  i  ..  J  1 

,    rv  \  (  r-dblc 

4 — ■ 

es- 


\ V  i '     e  u  I.  n  e  ^  :~> i. .  >     \  >  *...  i  *._      *  .  i 


necla-^--    '-    P.'! 


I.,  s  >    f '  t 


lai  o'-iL  Oi   lae  w siie  acences  \ 


--■111.  '1  -1  / 

\  i        \      i        '        lis:  !     I  ]     ■  I        i  •     i  ,    '    ^.  !     I    i   (  i        i   '         1     V  Si        I       i    1    I     I  : 


^  rharles  (167 2-1 723)  was  a  1  )\v  rake,  and  slid,  with  a 
facility  which  showed  him  to  be  his  father's  son,  from  Pro- 
testantism to  Catholicism  and  back  1 1  shifted  with  equal 
facility  his  allegiance  from  Louis  P'ourteeiuh  and  James 
Second  to  William  Third.  He  was  the  first  duke  of  the 
actual  stock  <  1  iOrhmond,  and  father  of  Charles,  the  second 
Duke  M701-50),  wliose  s  'S  Charles  11735-1806)  was  one 
of  the  leadin^  numbers  co  tie  Whig  cabinets  of  the  reign 
o;  ocorge  Third,  and  uncle  oi  e^  a  Charles  (1764-1819) 
who  died  01  a  mad  dog's  bite  111  Canada,  ii  eui  thus  be 
seen  that  the  |  re-ent  Duke  of  Richmond  is  by  no  means 
a  remote  descendant  of  "the  French  hi  ussy "  who  sold 
Charles  II.,  her  lover,  to  Louis  XIV.     {TransLifor's  Note.) 


I 


1 20 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


parliamentary  meddling,  a  lien  on  the  excise. 
Botli  mistresses,  having  noted  a  diminution  of 
\  '•  ility  in  Charles,  only  thought  of  fleecing  the 
exchequer  and  investing  their  hoards  in  France, 
where  they  would  be  outside  the  ranee  of  Eno-- 
li-h  popular  tempests.  But  the  Duchess  of 
Portsmouth,  who  was  fond  of  gambling,  lost 
heavily  at  the  queen's  card  table,  and  spent 
iai^e  sums  in  luxurious  furniture.  The  luxury 
of  her  rooms  at  Whitehall  excited  general  envy 
at  Court ;  and  th^v  were  visited  by  crowds  of 
people,  who  wanted  to  feast  their  eyes  on  the 
massy  plate,  tapestries,  and  objects  of  vertu 
they  c<    u  lined. 

Louise  wished  her  sister  to  live  also  in 
sumptuous  style,  and  teased  the  Earl  of  Pem- 
broke to  give  her,  when  she  lay  in,  a  present 
suitable  to  his  wife's  high  rank.  But  he  re- 
sented the  interference,  and  threatened  to  rid 
himseli  ui  t!:  rountess  by  sending  her  packing 
tehail,  I  Louise's  lodgings.  All  the 
titlc:S.  grants  and  luxury  did  not  efface  the 
stigmas  that  were  on  the  Keroualle  sisters. 
1  ac  luul  name  which  Madame  de  Sevio-ne 
called  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth  in  French, 
had    an    equivalent    in    every    English    mouth. 


tt ) 


■^  \  ^  V.  * 


DUCHESS  OF  PORTSMOUTH'S  FIRST  CHECK.  121 


When  the  Count  and  Countess  de  Keroualle 
visited  London  to  see  their  daughters,  they  did 
not  stay  with  either  of  them,  but  at  Sir  Richard 
Browne's,  whom  they  had  known  in  France  as 
an  dijiig7^d  when  Cromwell  was  at  Whitehall. 
Count  de  Keroualle  made  a  good  impression. 
He  had  a  military  air  and  Breton  frankness. 
His  wife  still  preserved  remains  of  great  beauty, 
and  showed  a  lively  mind.  They  were  said 
never  to  have  derived  any  profit  from  the 
situation  of  Louise. 

When  they  were  in  London,  another  stranger 
arrived  there,  whose  advent  was  a  cause  of 
sore  anxiety  to  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth. 
She  felt  that  a  struggle  for  power  was  im- 
minent, from  the  moment  when  the  news  was 
brought  to  town,  that  the  greatest  beauty  in 
Europe,  the  splendid  Duchess  Aiazarin, — 


"  Mazarin,  des  amours 
Deesse  tutelaire,"  ^ 


as  La  Fontaine  qualified  her, — had  landed  at 
Torbay.  This  lady  soon  after  made  her  ad- 
vent in  London,  furious  against  the  Court 
of    Versailles,    and    decked     out    to    conquer. 

*  La  Fontaine  :  Le  Rc?iard  anglais. 


K 


li  I 


1 1 


122 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


M 

j 

(i 


)| 


Ruvigny  was  not  less  uneasy  than  Louise  de 
Keroualle,  and  sent  agents  to  find  out  whether 
the  charms  for  which  the  new  comer  was 
famous,  were  well  preserved.  A  valet  of  de 
Gramont  had  witnessed  her  arrival/  She  had 
embarked  in  Holland,  and  was  driven  by 
stress  of  weather  down  the  Channel  to  Tor- 
bay,  whence  she  rode  up  to  town  attired  as  a 
eentleman  of  fashion.  She  had  with  her,  also 
on  horseback,  two  women,  five  men-servants, 
and  a  litde  blackamoor  who  ate  at  her  table. 
Arlinixton  and  Montaoru,  who  both  hated  the 
Duchess  of  Portsmouth,  concerted  how  to  use 
to  her  destruction,  the  powers  of  the  Duchess 
Mazarin  to  fascinate  and  seduce.. 

'  Ruvigny  to  Pomponne,  Jan.  2,  1676. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

THE  DUCHESS  MAZARIN. 

The  year  1675  closed  a  great  historical  era. 
The  captains  and  statesmen  w^ho  in  the  pre- 
ceding years  had  played  the  chief  parts :  Conde, 
Turenne,  and  Montecuculli  ;  and  Lionne,  Jean 
de  Witt,  and  Arlington,  were  dead,  or  had 
retired.  Louis  XIV.  suffered  a  Congress  to 
meet  at  Nimeo^uen^  and  brouofht  within  his 
orbit  the  new  minister  of  Charles,  the  Earl  of 
Danby. 

Thomas  Osborne,  Earl  of  Danby,  was,  ac- 
cording to  Ruvigny's  estimate,  more  afraid  of 
Charles  than  of  Charles's  master.  But  he  was 
so  well  ensnared  in  the  toils  of  the  Duchess  of 
Portsmouth,  and  so  carefully  compromised  by 
Charles,^    in  the  secret  negotiations  with  Ver- 

1  Tlie  members  of  the  Congress  were  named ;  but  the 
Congress  itself  did  not  meet  until  the  middle  of  1676. 

-  Mignet:  Negociations  relatives  a  la  Succession  d'Es- 
pigne,  tome  iv.  pp.  354-399- 


12; 


{ 


H( 


124 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


sailles/  that,  owing  to  his  struggle  against  the 
House  of  Commons,  he  found  himself,  against 
his  will,  acting  with  the  French  party.  Ru- 
vio-ny  spoke  incessantly  to  his  Government  of 
the  Common:,  a^  "  the  great  obstacle  ; "  and  he 
repeated  this  every  time  he  found  the  king, 
Louise,  and  I  Kmby  together.  Charles  was  at 
length.  Oh  the  i6th  of  February,  1676,  enabled 
by  a  Frciich  subsidy  of  two  millions  and  a  half 
of  livres  tottrnois,  to  prorogue  for  fifteen  months, 
lie  had  thus,  as  he  thought,  made  sure  of  a 
period  of  quietness,  when  the  Duchess  Mazarin 
arrived,  and  he  was  again  plunged  by  her  ad- 
\     u  ■iito  all  kinds  of  embarrassments. 

Hortense  Mancini,  then  thirty  years  old,  had, 
at  the  time  Charle ,  was  a  refugee  in  France, 
captivated  him  by  her  beauty.  "  The  destiny  " 
wiiich,  she  said  ''has  rendered  me  the  most 
unhappy  uf  my  sex,  began  by  dangling  a  crown 


befo 


r-. 


eves.^     It   was    notorious   that   the 


^  Ruvigny  to  Pomponne,  August  i,  1675. 

2  It  has  never  been  well  established  whether  Les  Meuioires 
de  la  Duchesse  Mazarin  were  by  her  or  St.  Real,  and  in  any 
case  they  should  be  mistrusted.  But  what  they  say  about 
Charles  II. 's  attachment  when  he  was  in  exile,  and  the  offer 
of  marriage  that  he  made  to  her  uncle  for  her,  is  confirmed 


THE  DUCHESS  MAZARIN. 


^5 


►.Vj 
% 


King  of  England  passionately  loved  me,  and 
wanted  me  to  be  his  wife."  Her  precocious 
charms  inspired  the  poets  who  furnished  themes 
for  ballets;  and  when,  in  1661,  she  made  her 
appearance  at  Fontainebleau  in  the  ballet  of 
the  Seasons  as  a  Muse,  one  of  them  wrote  : — 

"  Nulla  Muse  jamais 
N*eut  I'esprit  et  le  sein  formes  de  si  bonne  heure." 

She  was  given  in  marriage  to  the  son  of  Mar- 
shal de  Meilleraye,  who  received  from  the 
Cardinal  the  title  of  Due  Mazarin^  and  a  dowry 
of  twenty-eight  millions  of  francs.  The  fancies 
and  the  manias  of  her  husband  amused  the 
Court  of  France  for  nearly  sixty  years.  He 
was  a  man  of  the  brightest  wit,  was  well  read, 
and  good  company.  His  manners  were  graci- 
ous, affable,  and  polite.      But  excess  of  religious 

by  Madame  de  Motteville,  Mile,  de  Montpensier,  La  Relaiion 
die  Fonds  Colbert,  No.  4782  by  Riordan  de  Muscry. 

1  The  nobiliary  prefix  de  was  not  in  the  ducal  patent 
made  out  for  the  husband  of  Hortense  Manchini.  When  a 
clerk  of  the  patent  office  wrote  *'M.  le  Due  de  Mazarin,' 
Cardinal  Mazarin  ran  his  pen  through  it.  He  said,  that  the 
de  would  imply  a  fief  of  Mazarin,  and  that  he  (the  Cardinal) 
in  whose  honour  the  ducal  standing  was  granted  by  the  king 
to  M.  de  Meilleraye,  was  originally  but  a  mean  varlet  who 
had  not  a  patch  of  ground  anywhere,  and  whose  parents 
owed  their  graves  to  their  commune. 


126 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


THE  DUCHESS  MAZARIN. 


127 


h  ' 


I' 


mother's  ^a 
feeling  arisin 


UJ 


devoti  :i  spoiled  his  natural  gifts ;  and  he  be- 
came the  prey  of  monks,  bigots,  and  hypocrites, 
who  profited  by  his  weakness  to  draw  upon  his 
millions.  He  mutilated  the  finest  statues,  and 
bedaubed  the  rarest  pictures,  forbade  the  wo- 
men and  wenches  on  his  estates  to  milk  cows 
—  an  employment  which  he  feared  might  sug- 
gest bad  thoughts. 

The    Due   Mazarin  wanted  to  pull  out  the 
front  teeth  if  liis  daughters,  who  inherited  their 

f  beauty,  to  prevent  coquettish 
them.  In  his  letters  he  only 
spoke  of  monks  and  missionaries^  who  were 
pouring  out  spiritual  blessings ;  of  designs  for 
church  ornaments,^  of  frequently-recurring  in- 
tervention.. kA  Providence  in  his  own  personal 
affairs,  and  of  small  miracles.  From  conscien- 
tious scruples,  he  threw  up  governorships  of 
provinces  and  the  post  of  Grand  Commander 
of  Artillery.  H  ;  extravarant  actions  were 
iniuimc;  le.  Ihouorh  of  the  brightest  intel- 
lect,  l^.p  was  a  mono-maniac ;  and  his  peculiar 

1  The  Due  Mazarin  was  probably  the  original  of  Orgon 
in  Tarttiffe.  The  kind  of  piety  into  which  he  threw  himself 
is  ridiculed  in  that  masterpiece  of  wit,  good  sense,  and 
satire.     (Translator' s  Note}) 

-  See  Mhnoires  de  Mile,  de  Montpensier^  tome  iv.,  p.  69. 


madness  was  his  wife's  best  justification.  In 
the  full  bloom  of  matronly  loveliness,  and 
surrounded  with  young  children  of  whom  she 
was  justly  proud,  he,  for  her  soul's  health, 
immured  her  in  a  kind  of  aristocratic  Mag- 
dalens'  Asylum,  the  convent  of  Les  Filles 
de  Sainte  Marie,  in  the  Rue  Saint-Antoine. 
The  young  Duchess  became,  in  her  conven- 
tual gaol,  the  friend  of  another  court  lady, 
the  Marquise  de  Courcelles,  who  was  also 
there  as  an  enforced  penitent.  They  both 
quarrelled  with  the  nuns  for  refusing  them 
water  to  wash  their  feet.  In  their  remon- 
strance they  put  forward  that  they  were  not 
in  the  nunnery  to  observe  its  rules.  Both 
escaped.  The  Duchess  and  her  maid  Nanon 
went  to  Italy,  dressed  as  men,  and  escorted 
by  the  Chevalier  de  Rohan  and  a  gentleman 
named  Courbeville.  The  latter  so  completely 
and  openly  governed  her  as  to  scandalize 
Italians  of  her  rank.  She  returned  to  France, 
where  her  husband  succeeded  in  getting 
her  confined  in  the  Abbey  of  Lys,  near 
Melun.  But  the  king,  whose  playmate  she 
was  in  girlhood,  sent  a  constable  with  eight 
dragoons,   to   force  the  convent  door  and    set 


I2S 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE 


the  Duchess  at  liberty.^     She  re-entered  Pans 
triumphantly   in   the   coach   of  the    Treasurer 
Colbert,  and  then  retired   to   Provence.     The 
Duchess   Wazarin^   was  one  of  those   Roman 
beauties  in  whom  there  is  no  doll-prettiness, 
and  in  whom  unaided  nature  triumphs  over  all 
the  arts  of  the  coquette.    Painters  could  not  say 
what  was  the  colour  of  her  eyes.     They  were 
neither  blue,  nor  grey,  nor  yet  black,  nor  brown, 
nor  hazel.      Nor  were  they  languishing  or  pas- 
sionate, as  if  either  demanding  to  be  loved  or 
expressing  love.     They  simply  looked  as  if  she 
had   ever  basked  in   love's  sunshine.     If  her 
mouth  was  not  large,  it  was  not  a  small  one, 
and  was   visibly  the   fit   organ  for  intelligent 
speech  and  amiable  words.     All  her  motions 
were  charming,  in  their  easy  grace  and  dignity. 
Her    complexion   was    softly   toned,    and    yet 
warm  and  fresh.     It  was  so  harmonious,  that, 
though  dark,  she  seemed  of  beautiful  fairness. 
Her  jet-black  hair  rose  in  strong  waves  above 
her  forehead,  as  if  proud  to  clothe  and  adorn 
her  splendid  head.     She  never  used  scents. 

1  DeSevign^,  du  12  Aoilt,  1689.— Saint  Real:  Memoires, 
tome  vi.,  p.  94.     De  S£vigne,  du  6  Fevrier,  167 1. 
-  Saint  Real,  tome  v.,  p.  79. 


'■A 


THE   DUCHESS  MAZARIN. 


129 


At  Aix  in  Provence,  the  Duchess  joined  her 
sister,  the  Connetable  de  Colonna,  who  was  of 
as  dazzHng  beauty  as  herself.  Madame  de 
Grignan  met  them  there,  and  described  them 
to  her  mother  as  divine,  and  looking  like  fine 
pictures.  All  the  ladies  were  furiously  jealous 
of  them,  and  called  them  mad-caps,  who  ought 
to  be  locked  up,  to  keep  them  out  of  mischief. 
Madame  Scudery  was  for  whipping  them ; 
and  the  Countess  de  Soissons  and  Duchess  de 
Bouillon  wanted  them  to  be  placed  in  a  lunatic 
asylum.^  The  town  talk  at  Aix  was,  that  they 
had  come  there  disguised  as  men  because  they 


1  These  two  ladies  were  the  sisters  of  the  runaway 
Duchess  and  Connetable.  Carduial  Mazarin  had  five  nieces, 
the  daughters  of  his  sister  Mancini.  They  were  Laura, 
Duchess  of  Mercour ;  Olympia,  Countess  of  Soissons  \ 
Maria,  Connetable  de  Colonna;  Hortense,  Duchess  Mazarin; 
and  Mariana,  Duchess  de  Bouillon.  Louis  XIV.  was  suc- 
cessively enamoured  of  Olympia  and  Maria,  to  the  latter  of 
whom  he  promised  marriage,  and  who  was  passionately 
attached  to  him.  In  obedience  to  the  commands  of  his 
mother,  and  for  state  reasons  pressed  upon  him  by  Cardinal 
Mazarin,  he  married  his  first  cousin,  the  Infanta  Maria 
Theresa,  in  right  of  whom  he  claimed  Flanders.  The 
Mancini  sisters  were  said  to  be  equally  beautiful ;  they 
had  all  a  noble  style  of  beauty,  and  yet  they  did  not 
resemble  each  other. 

K 


I^O 


LOUISE   DE  KEROUALLE. 


THE  DUCHESS  MAZARIN. 


m 


1 


»* 


had  made  an  assignation  with  the  Chevaher  de 
Lorraine  and  the  Comte  de  Marsan. 

Ik  u\.-  .1^  ':  in  i\\  their  giddy  behaviour  soon 
turned  t!v  ruistnrracy  of  Aix  against  them, 
aix  ;  IV.  y  had  to  quit  the  in  suddenly  to 
escape  reclusion  in  a  convent  1  in  I  ^nrhess 
Maz  r;:  got  av  ny  lu  bavoy,  where  she  spent 
t:  e  years  with  Cesar  A'icard,  a  gallant  who 
passed  himself  off  as  the  Abbe  de  bn  Real, 
althouo-h  he  n.. .  n  :  tonsured,  and  had  no 
benefice,  ib  na'^  a  young  man  of  sparkling 
c  nversation,  va  violently  in  love  with  the 
D rchc--  an  1  \y?s  (>(  such  utter  and  refined 
depravity  of  habits,  that  Louvois,  who  was 
ci  connoisseur  in  such  things,  was  horror- 
biiicken  when  he  read  his  letters,  which  had 
been  seized  an  1  brought  to  him.  They  had 
the  effervescence  ui  hot  animal  spirits,  and 
showed  their  nnh  r  to  be  steeped  in  the  in- 
famous vices  which  then  prevailed  in  Italy.^ 

The  Duchess  hhizarin  was  followed  to 
England  by  the  so-called  Abbe.  She  went 
n^  London  in  the  secret  hope  of  reviving  the 
old  flame  w^iich  Charles  il.  had  entertained  for 

1  Louvois  to  Courtin,  Jan.  3,  1677  ;  Affaires  Etrarighes, 
Anolcterre,  tome  cxxiii. 


her.  Of  the  fourteen  years  which  had  rolled 
over  her  since  her  marriage,  she  had  spent 
se\  n  with  her  husband  and  her  four  children. 
1  iic  rest  of  the  time  had  been  passed  in  con- 
vents, on  highways,  dressed  as  a  man,  and  in 
the  small  courts  of  Italy,  whose  lazy  tranquillity 
she  disturbed  by  her  adventures.  She  picked 
up  new  vices  there,  but  remained  youthful- 
looking  and  fresh.  Ruvigny,  annoyed  at  the 
•^vonderful  preservation  of  her  charms,  wrote, 
"  She  is  to  all  appearance  a  finely-developed 
young  girl.  I  never  saw  any  one  who  so  well 
defies  the  power  of  time  and  vice  to  disfigure. 
At  the  age  of  fifty  she  w^Ill  have  the  satisfaction 
of  thinking,  when  she  looks  at  her  mirror,  that 
she  is  as  lovely  as  she  ever  was  in  her  life." 

She  was  received  in  London  as  a  triumphant 
goddess.  The  Duke  of  York  gave  in  her  hon- 
our a  rout,  at  which,  through  Sunderland,  the 
king  presented  her  his  compliments.  Every 
one  at  Court  looked  forward  to  a  considerable 
change  there.  A  lady  of  her  fame  and  loveli- 
ness was  sure  to  carry  all  before  her,  and  to 
do  something  extraordinary.  De  Gramont, 
who  from  the  first  set  up  to  be  her  social 
pilot,  was   enraptured  with   her.      He  had   not 


n2 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


1   1 


seen  her  since  she  was  a  bride,  and  found  her 
i,  but  he  thought  for  tlie  better;  aiil 
:':•  r:\::c:i  ambassador  tli  .1  :u\  the 
ini-tressfN  were  edipsed  b}*  her.  Slv^  ^  ;u'  red 
t;uj  C^jLiii  d-.  AnuiJci  entered  the  canip  of 
Godfrey."^  Every  t'-'^^ue  ran  ap^n  h'^a*.  1  i>,^ 
men  spuke  ui  iici  lu  express  adniirdiion,  aaa 
the  women  to  exhale  their  jealous  uneasiness. 

NVl!  aia  !in  celebrated  the  triumph  ui  ihe 
Ducii'  -  by  going  into  the  deepest  mourning^ 
—  I(  r  she  said,  the  eclipsed  Duchess  of  Ports- 
mouth and  her  dead  hopes.  The  Duchess  of 
Cl-veland  retired  to  the  country.  AH  the 
laglish  rivals  played  into  the  haul,  -i  the 
new-comer,  to  get  nd  the  sooner  of  Keroualle, 
whose  art  and  diplomacy  theretofore  had  de- 
feated their  attacks.  They  accepted  Mazarin 
as  their  avenging  champion  She  was  at  least 
abo\c~b'  ird,  and  every  one  knew  where  to 
have    her.       Waller's    poem    of    ''  The    Three 


esses 


n 


k  ;l  satire  on  this  struggle. 


Iv   vigny  ^  n^^^xt   warned    Pomponne   that   in*! 
I    a.  a  aland   had   taken   it   into    her 


,  ::•  .~> 


^  Ruvigny  to  Pomponne,  Jan.  20,  1676. 
-  Ruvigny  to  King  Louis,  July  2,  1676. 
^  Ruvigny  to  Pomponne,  Feb.  3,  1^76. 


I 


THE   DUCHESS  MAZARIN, 


133 


head  to  visit  France,  with  the  two  youno-  dukes 
n^-^r  sons ;  and  he  proposed  that  she  should  be 
exempted  from  custom  h^use  duiies  of  (^vcrv 
snrt  :u  Calais.  She  was  taking  many  horses 
arid  two  carriages.  The  cr^tnnr-  franchise 
was  granted,  but?  in  terms  which  offended  the 
ira  cible  Duchess,  who  showed  the  official 
passport  to  Charles,  and  ordered  him  lu  com- 
piain  ^  because  she  and  her  sons  (who  were  of 
lie  ''royal  blood")  were  not  styled  ''cousins" 
of  T.ouis.  He  not  obeying,  she  tore  up  the 
document,  and  said  she  preferred  paying  any 
amount  of  dut}',  sooner  than  put  up  aith  a 
snub.  She  embarked  with  Uramont.  ^  But 
i!a  French  ambassador  had  taken  care  to 
warn  the  custom-house  officers  to  ask  no 
money  and  overwhelm  her  witli  their  civilities, 
I  r  raat  such  was  the  king's  good  pleasure. 
I  iu  Duchess  of  Portsmouth  stood  la  need 
^^  "upport,  and  ^vas  quick  to  ask  it. 
ill    and    faded.      Another    pre   naacv 


>  V  I.  i  ^3 


e 


(! 


A  .A 


premature    birih. 


Jealousy    so 


'/  \  \  „t  W'ULi 


sadl)'  ah' 


,i\ 


1  Ruvigny  to  Pomponne,  March  19,  1676. 

2  Und. 

2  Cojrtin  to  King  Louis,  June  8,  1676. 


134 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


yeai'K 
ludjir 


c^)nK:ssed. 


remarked,    that    at    the 


■f-    f-i 


'I^-lcd 


King, 


t  '  1     J     i     9       '■ 


a 
Cli 


isjhbuiir; 


X'^wn'^arkf  ■! .    no 

'  ■; 

'i^ni---    hersolf  in 
riiio     prevented 


w 


robbed    li   r    of    twelve 

'•aw:  led     iicr    jewels, 


\  illnee. 

freni     seeine     5irr-     n-^     nf*t'"i     :m     she 
\{--i-    in    IV  affairs  were  in  disorder, 

her     -t--^v.n-k     innrirn.: 

thoiir?rinr,     pnnnl-     an^ 

which  she  had  eiUruste  1  a^  him,  f  r  an  equally 

riie    peciaa.  r\      troubles    of     the    Duchess 

^lazar'a  v;^t-  still  great-ir  Th*=;  riva^  was 
f-reca,  la  upening  her  campaign,  lu  iUai^  out 
the  lla^  of  l*-:r  -a  T'  rles,  whom  her  love- 
lines:^  uv';vc:irnc,  was  inelleLi  b)"  the  tale  ui  the 
>traii-  t'.'  wraah  -la-  ^vr,  .  reduced.  Vh]u\  his 
fi\va  laai  :  la-  vo'^^^tf^  t^^  Louis,  askini;  iara  a- 
f  are  al.  Mazarin  to  make  his  wife  a  suitable 
all'ovance ;  and  iuj  eiau'ged  Kevagny  Lu  say 
that  lie  aa  afa  be  deeply  sensible  t^  a  f.  f  ivour, 

.von id    hi'    imp< 


witiinat  rvh'-^h    it   won  id    d^-    iinDOs^iblf' 


lach'   to    ii\' 
1   . ,. 


1  i  I'  iOOvJ,      ii( 


aaade 


a 


ffair  a 


'  i    W.  i-  ■ 


:i:vl 


'  it"'  r 


t    1   t;  at   he  could  not 


^  Ruvigny  to  Pomponne,  April   i6,  1676;  and  Ruvigny 
to  King  Louis,  Jan.  30   1676. 


THE  DUCHESS  MAZARIX. 


135 


say  how  deeply  obliged  he  would  be  were  it 
promptly  arranged,  i.uuis  was  averse  always 
to  meddle  in  family  matters,  and   w  he  respected 


the-  Due   Maza 


he  could 


equitably  force  him  to  put  lii-  a.  de  in  a  position 
in   which    she   could    more    publicly  dishonour 
him  at  the  Court  of   England.     He,  himself, 
wrote  to   the   Duchess  to  explain  why  he  did 
not  accede  to  the  wish  of  Charles.^     Ruvigny 
handed   her  the  letter,  and  bore  testimony  to 
the  great  displeasure   she   showed  on  reading 
It,    at   finding   herself  abandoned    in     i    Court 
where    money    was    so    necessary.       Charles, 
meanwhile,  had  given  her  secretly  an  order  on 
the  keeper  of  his  privy  purse  for  a  thousand 
gold  jacobus.      A   second   attack'   against  the 
husband    of    the    fair    fugitive    was    prepared. 
Ruvigny    thought    it    "dangerous     a»     \e       a 
woman    whose    star    w^as    in    the    ascendant, 
whose    importance    was    fast    rising."      Every 
one  helped  her  in  the  campaign  on  which  she 
at  once  entered  again  a    diu    1  dichess  of  Torts- 
mouth.    The  young  Princess     f  Modena.  wan 
the    Duke    ot    York    laid,    aU'W'    aa.irrn,:a, 


1  Ruvigny  to  Pomponne,  Feb.  27,  1676. 

2  Ibid.,  March  5,  1679. 


136 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


among  the  first  to  side  with  Hortense  Mancini, 
whom  she  kept  whole  days  beside  her  bed,  to 
which  the  roy.il  hdy,  being  in  an  interesting 
situation,  was  c  siifined.  The  king  went  often 
to  the  bedroom  of  liis  sister-in-law,  without 
appearing  to  expeci  lu  n.id  there  the  Duchess 
Mazarin,  but  on  purpose  t  meet  her.  She 
was  very  natural  ^  and  open,  and  did  not  resort 
to  trick  or  artifice."  It  was  proposed  to  give 
her  the  '^iiite  of  rooms  of  the  Uuke  of  York 
ai  \\  hitehall  when  he  moved  to  St.  James's 
Palace. 

The  honourable  and  honest  De  Ruvigny  was 
sorely  embarrassed  by  these  women's  quarrels. 
n  I  :>t  :i;  vwiy  in  the  labyrinth  of  intrigues, 
and  owned  he  had  done  so.  "Sire,"^  he  cried  in 
distress,   •   I   have  just  learned   iJiat  there's 

rt  dn    and    secret    intelligence    between    the 
I^^^■^q■  ol    Enprland  and    th^    i  ^ -chess    ATnzarin. 


a  l'c^ 


rr-t 


She 


i     *    i    *   i    i   * 


4.  J,    i  V  i  I  .  .  I  ,/  A  i 


(- V 


^'-i 


I  lies  on    ;ier   mtrigue  very  quietly   v.  iUi 
1  :io:.c    who    hoped    to    <^hare    in    the 
1.  have  11)1  \  -  :u.d  the  opportunity 

d.        Id-   li.-n  urged  tlu^  exr-'juiencx- 

^  Ruvigny  to  Pomponne,  Jan.  20,  1676. 

-  ^    '  ,  j  ii:    -:;  and  30,  1676. 

3  Ruvigny  to  the  king,  March  12,  1676. 


^ 


v 


'I 


THE  DUCHESS  MAZARIN, 


137 


obtaining  a  larger  pension  for  her  from  her 
husband.  Charles  and  the  Duke  of  York  ^  had 
been  pressing  him  to  represent  to  Louis  their 
sentiments  of  old  affection,  and  of  pity  for 
Madame  Mazarin.  Nothino^  would  oive  them 
more  pleasure  than  for  their  good  offices  on 
her  behalf  to  be  well  received  at  Versailles. 
They  were  pained  at  the  refusal  of  their  first 
intervention,  and  they  hoped  to  be  more  for- 
tunate a  second  time. 

''Charles,"  remarked  the  ambassador,  ''shows 
a  deepening  interest  in  the  lady ;  and  it  may 
be,  that  her  state  of  distress  will  intensify  the 
passion  which  now,  clearly,  overmasters  him." 

Ruvigny  was  not  tho  person  to  manage 
feminine  and  effeminate  souls.  Louis  sent  to 
reinforce  the  oM  Pi'otestant  in  London, — with 
tlie  mission  to  supersede  him  in  a  few  weeks, — 
the  most  wily  and  refined  of  his  courtiers,  and 
one  who,  althoufrli  ,  favourite  ul  the  ereat  kino-, 
had  always  behaved  widi   modesty.      Ihe  new 


I J  1 1 


\   I  L  '"^ 


i  •  I  L 


ec 


d  t< 


i!n,:  iudiCciUirt' 


'■    ''is    1 


1     "i . 


1  l)ecn 


uiiu^T  1  ,jn:\-'0is,  aiui 


^-  I  -...  ^  i. 


L  i   1  '. 


\  5 


'.a    i   \ 


'i    ^ 


iiiii   without  a  court 


*  Ruvigny  to  King  Louis,  March  16,  1676. 


n.8 


LOUISE  DE   KEROUALLE. 


mantle,  and  with  a  cane  and  councillor's  ruffles. 
lis  name  wns  Coi^rtin,  and  he  was   the  only 


man    of    his    profession    who    was    invited    i 


u 


A     ! 


J 


\ 


CHAPTER  VII. 

COURT  IN. 

HoNOR^  CouRTiN,  Seigneur  de  Chanteroine/ 
was  councillor  of  the  Parliament  of  Rouen 
at  the  age  of  fourteen.  When  governor  of 
Picardy,  he  did  not  venture  to  reject  an 
application  from  the  Duke  de  Chaulnes  to 
exempt  several  villages  on  his  estate  from 
the  payment  of  the  taille  impost.  But  on 
finding    that   because    of    this    exemption    the 

^  Bom  in  1622;  died  in  1703.  Married  to  Salome  de 
Beauvers;  He  came  to  serve  as  French  ambassador  at  the 
Court  of  Whitehall  in  May  1676  ;  was  author  of  t\\Q /our?ial 
des  Entrevues  dans  VIsle  des  Fat'sans,  describing  the  inter- 
views between  Louis  XIV.  and  Philip  IV.  and  Mazarin  and 
the  Conde  de  Huro,  which  was  published  in  1665  as  a  sequel 
to  r  Hisioire  de  la  Paix  des  Pyrenees^  de  Gualdo  Priorato. 
See  also  Madame  de  Sevigne's  Letters^  Capmas,  Series  II., 
P-  359  i  ^i"^d  M.  Boisdelisle's  notice  in  his  edition  of  St. 
Smon,  tome  iii.  pp.  279-286.  Honore  Courtin,  a  Norman, 
should  not  be  confounded  with  Antoine  Courtin,  an 
Auvergnat,  who  was  also  in  the  judicature  and  an  ambas- 
sador, and  who  alone  is  mentioned  in  La  Biographie  Moncrt. 

»39 


^ 


1 40 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


COURTIN. 


141 


Other  villages  of  the  circumscription  were 
weighed  down  with  taxes,  he  paid,  to  relieve 
them,  forty  thousand  livres  of  his  own  into 
the  treasury,  and  resigned  his  high  and  lucra- 
tive post.  li  :  had  an  amiable  and  a  cheerful 
disposition,^  a  good  judgment,  ripeness  of  mind, 
a  graceful  manner,  and  a  bright,  delicate  wit. 
Courtin,  albeit  of  diminutive  stature,  was  eal- 
lant  in  his  attentions  to  ladies,  had  the  air 
and  speech  of  one  who  had  mixed  in  the 
best  society,  and  yet  without  affecting  to  be 
above  his  rank  of  councillor.  Althoueh  re- 
ticent,  he  was  perfecdy  sincere;  and  he  had 
the  clean  hands  of  a  man  of  unimpeachable 
honour.^ 

Before  setting  out  for  London,  where  he  had 
previously  been  on  a  diplomatic  mission,  it 
occurred  lu  iiiin  tu  obtain  informition  about 
the  t  :i  and  the  Court,  f-^-w  i  maid  of  honour 
01  ih-  Uueen  ui  England,  who  was  suiyino-  at 
I  c  >n\ -nt  in  t'l  Faubourg  -:  '"Germain.  He 
had  dined,  wiih   h-x  id   l'^-  uourville's ;  and  he 

•  Gourville's  M  moires,  p.  543;  Mignet's  Negociations, 
tome  iii.,  p.  34;,  ar.d  t.  iv.  p.  141  ;  Rousset's  Histoire  de 
Louvois,  t.  i.  p.  46-, 

2  Saint  Simon. 


had  heard  that  she  left  the  Court  of  Whitehall 
because  she  one  day,  when  in  the  Maids  of 
Honours'  waiting-room,  gave  birth  to  a  child. ^ 
I  i  also  went  to  see  Duke  Mazarin,^  who  pro- 
posed terms  certain  not  to  be  accepted.  They 
were,  "  the  retirement  of  his  wife  to  the  Abbey 
of  Montmartre."  Courtin,  therefore,  placed  him- 
self on  the  lady's  side  when  he  went  to  London, 
and  endeavoured  to  produce  on  the  mind  of 
Louis  ^  an  impression  favourable  to  her.  IT^^ 
mentioned  to  him,  in  a  letter,  how  he  had  seen 
Madame  Mazarin  at  high  mass  in  the  chapel 
of  the  Portuguese  ambassador ;  but  he  could 
not  help  noticing  that  she  betrayed  disgust  at 
the  length  of  the  service.  He  studied  her;  he 
drew  the  Abbe  de  St.  Real  into  talking  about 
her;  and  the  upshot  was,  uneasiness  at  her 
erowinof  influence.  The  Kino^  of  France  was 
earnestly  advised  by  him^  to  use  his  authority 

1  Courtin  to  Louvois,  between  May  and  December,  1665. 
This  was  not  the  young  lady  whose  child,  born  in  the 
queen's  circle,  died  soon  after  birth,  and  was  dissected  by 
Charles,  who  made  ribald  jests  about  his  supposed  pater- 
nity  of  his  anatomical  subject. 

2  Courtin  to  King  Louis,  June  8,  167(3. 
s  Ibid.,  May  25,  1679. 

^  Ibid.,  June  8,  1676. 


142 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


COURTIN. 


143 


i  lorcing  her  husband  to  grant  the  pension 
which  she  demanded.  St.  Real  had  let  out 
that  she  thought  Louis  disHked  her,  and  would 
not  be  sorry  for  him  to  know  that  it  behoved 
him  not  to  have  her  against  him,  since  she 
would,  if  he  went  on  showinof  himself  ao-ainst 
her,  use  her  influence  in  a  way  that  might  not 
please  him. 

Had  she  really  influence  ?     Courtin  sounded 
Charles  himself  on  that  delicate  point ;  and  the 
Kmgof  England  told  him  that  he  had  a  real 
friendship  for  her,  but  that  he  would  not  suffer 
any  cabal   to  draw   him   into  a  closer  relation 
with  her.      However,  he  said,  she  was  a  great 
beauty,  and   that  he   found   no   pleasure   equal 
to    that    of    conversing    with    her.       He    also 
showed   that  he  liked   to   talk   about   her  and 
to  hear  her  praised,  whereas   he  appeared   in- 
different to  the   Duchess  of  Portsmouth,  who 
had    grown    delicate,   was    somewhat  chano-ed 
and  had  only  enemies  in  England.      It  was  to 
be  foreseen  that  the  king  would  yield   to   the 
new  temptress,  in  which  case  the  French  am- 
bassador would  have  uphill  work,  as  he  would 
at  the  same  time  have  to  combat  both  minister 
and    mistress.      Courtin    did    not   see    that    it 


mattered  to  Louis  whether  the  Duchess  Ma- 
zarin  refused  conjugal  rights  to  her  husband ; 
but  that  it  greatly  mattered  if  the  duke  went 
on  refusing  her  the  fifty  thousand  livres  ^  which 
she  claimed  for  her  necessary  expenses,  because 
she  might  help  to  keep  England  from  joining 
with  the  enemies  of  his  majesty.  The  English 
hated  the  French  more  than  ever.  Courtin 
related  how  a  London  crowd  were  going  to 
throw  a  Venetian  into  the  Thames  because 
they  took  him  for  a  Frenchman.  At  any 
price,  the  Duchess  Mazarin  should  be  gained, 
or  orot  out  of  Encrland.  A  benefice  or  an 
abbey  might  be  promised  to  S.  Real.^  It 
would  be  a  miracle  if  the  King  of  England 
did  not  fall  under  the  empire  of  the  Duchess, 
because  the  whole  Court  was  making  a  set 
upon  him  in  her  behalf. 

The  situation  was  so  danorerous  that  the 
reserved  Courtin  tried  to  act  on  the  husband 
by  a  letter,  which  was  insolently  satirical.  The 
lady,  he  said,  was  afraid  she  might  find  reclu- 
sion  at  Montmartre  irksome ;  and  she  did  not 
feel  her  strength  equal  to  the  se^vere  rules  of 

^  These  were  the  only  conditions  she  stipulated  for. 
~  Courtin  to  Pomponne,  June  8,  1676. 


u+ 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


a  convent.  From  a  jocular,  he.  went  on  to  a 
menacing-  tone.  The  Duchess  took  her  stand 
on  the  conditions  which  she  proposed  when 
Madame  de  Montespan  was  at  the  trouble  of 
endeavouring  to  make  up  the  breach  between 
her  and  her  husband.  She  remained  deter- 
mined not  to  grant  him  the  privileges  marriage 
justifies.  But  she  would  be  satisfied  with  a 
yearly  pension  of  fifty  thousand  livres  if  her 
laces,  jewels,  and  precious  furniture  were  given 
back  to  her,  and  if  the  idea  of  locking  her  up 
in  a  convent  were  for  ever  abandoned.  It  was 
not  reasonable  to  suppose  that  she  would  con- 
sent to  such  a  captivity,  she  having  charming 
lodgings  in  St.  James's  Palace,  and  handsome 
furniture  belonging  to  the  Crown  of  England. 
St.  James's  was  the  palace  of  the  Duke  of 
York,  who  was  married  to  a  young  Italian 
princess— an  enthusiastic  ally  of  the  Duchess 
Mazarin,  who  had  made  up  her  mind  not  to 
reside  at  Whitehall,  where  the  king  lived.  She 
did  this  from  a  sense  of  dignity.  If  she  chose, 
she  would  not  want  for  anything,  because  there 
were  persons  at  Court  who  would  be  glad  to 
aid  her  in  whatever  way  she  wished. 

The  purblind   Duke  Mazarin  did  not  see  the 


1 


^ 


J-'OAVscns.: 


:^A... 


;vvv^ 


//^;y/yv^ 


L^' 


.'■u:4y. 


^y^m^-^^^ 


|l        ! 


COURTIN, 


145 


n'<>ri\  i)t  i^ourtiiL  and  wrote  to  h;ni  an  uiiduous 
i-n-.T  <'f  riMit  pn::-os.^  He  arcj-iied  like  a  theo- 
^^  o'--^'^-  ^  ^i^'  reasuii^>  le.^  '.:y\\v  m:-Ju  iia\--  luiJ 
hofore  a  concla\-^:^  nf  hoci-rN  cf  Dn  iietx-,  Init 
'■■''"■  J  ^vcic  LiiiUwii  ciu^t\  Kjii  um  c  a  i  1  m  I ;  ' ' !  a ' 'i  I 
beaut)",  wla>  was  la-^-atiaaa'  vath  cieh^an,  tiie 
currupi    ainiubplicrc    ui    W  aaj^liall.       T;a-    has- 

a    epistle  im    -lasi^.^  ;    aiaa    the  aaibas- 

1 


1        1 


■-a^ ;;  a' 


)  !  IT  !  n 


t  1-.  .    ■ 

I  1   V  ,  . 


M    5  i 


1 


t     I   (  ■  \\-  t\    iff 

a  Hi  a ;  a  T    a  a  a 


1  i  I '..  1       i  1  * :  -a 


ni 


.laa   as   a    nooi 

i 'eaii  at  )nne,    lii.a 

a  a  I  /a  I  r  n  1    \\a  n  cj  i  .  ~^  -  -  ^ 

a     .        ' 

1  ii^'    .^vi)i«j    N.    Ki;.a    wa:-    more    Diiaoi*.:"   tiaiii 

J. 

I  •         '    ■  ♦  I  .... 

arvi   woaiii   b^  glad  to  take  lirr  fr^aa  av     i^  ?n.)- 

,  ■     {  1  ■■■;         f  T  ■ '  " 

Uiiiiaa>  K}\   i.onciuii. '     lie  wai:^  aOi.!  \''T\'  aaiurous 
an^l  piaimised  tla/  arn])assador  la>  \^k'-\  N^a'vices. 
At   this    aaa.aafr    "^a   ki.-.Li    -Uilemix"  ^^uaa■■a   I'^^r 
i'ari>.       b.M.-av)a-  wa-.  ^0/   ai   Oca.^aia'  O)  ka.M\\^  uie 
rt*a:>?  HI   i  a    I  a i >, '      {  1 
iraai   ^i  ?   \aolentl\"   (aaaiaaiaa-u    a>    aa   !.a"   .^11    .iC- 


.  ^  1 

i„  a  u  i  u 


^  Courtiii  to  Pomponne,  June  2j.  1076. 

2  Ti^/t/,  j     V   i    .  1676. 

3  Ibid.,  Juac  :aa   1676. 

*  Loi!\i)a  to  (  .)urtin,  Oct.  2r,  !a;6      Affaires  Ffrj?ig}res, 

Anglciirrc\  i,Mi\c  i-\x,.  C,  fbl.   177, 


146 


LOUISE  DE   KEROUALLE. 


counts  \va-.  siiuuio  ^  ;•  :.t 


L      ill 


object  ot   Ills  iuv't'. 

I  lie     ciniL\l:-^ai.  :■  <T 

i 


f\ 


uircc    \vt:cKS 


I       !  i   I  ■      I  I   I     '.    1, 


his  sudoisi  \va\-  tlu' 


(^^uAvun  rio^lied, 


i  ;  ("( 


!   r 


lie    lllcililt    to    ^o. 

o 


'*  V    i,  i.  . '.'  i  i   i  I.  I 


W;  w     \\'(  5  IT  t      * 


"~i 


i  e  i  -  >  L  i .  u  K  L  i  i  .  t  "■  I  ^  •  '...  L 


ii'JL'K      <, 


I         L  1  4  ■._,        V.  i  :  1  : 


'\        iiiiiibL-ii.^       iii      LiiC      V.  iiliii, 

1 


it     WciS     in 


1  A'     IlKin  \'     t(J    K'-j' ' ,  > 

#^  ^  i. 

C'.anin>  h,:po;-    1<  id:  ^ 


:j'-r  ;0':u''  ■--[  {•  *  tli-*  car 
a^^'ij  I  hat  tac  Lic:3irc 
ia*  th'  1  Michess  M.i 
!'~^s.    ]  ;a '  ^'  M  s  -c 

it     w 


saihatai  cuia  xcdtaa.  !"» •solution  ^c 

pro:.^al4\'   r-i^jiii  ij-a^ia-  ::e  got  to  Dr)\'fT.      The 

\\  a  1 1  i\t  aaai  i^'iaiiuQe, 


iJucia,, 


an' 


I  la'aiah t  a  V 


1  ^ . ' 


\^r"i  nci 


T 


» \  J  1 .  \_  i  1 


whij  naLi  lajad  in.aa  id    ^.   Real's  lei  a  in 

had  been   se'c  a!  in  th^^  i)Ost-office,  opined  that 

air^   r(_M_.ai  aai^a  ijc  niure  oraiuiui  lu  iiur  uiaii  lus 


i  la:    i  a:cai::v.   id    i^uidbinouth,  \vh-    icia  been 


coiiiaanw" 

abbtait  a  a 

.  r     i  ♦    a ,  ■  >    . .   ^  ■ '     i  * 

Ui.     i).uii,      -..n  ci:-':-a. .'.;!_  i    Oil    a 'a'    i'.  aa'a 


? , .  t 


aie 


^   <  uurtin  to  Louvois,  Jan.  3,  1677. 
^  Louvois  Lu  Courtin,  Jan.  3,  1677. 

3  She  was  there   from    May  25  to  July  4.     The  waters  of 
Bath    th.:i   began  to   be   the   fashion,   they  being   thought 


COURTIN. 


147 


\ '_  ^  i 


Strong  jests  oi 

h'O-self  m  taeay   possible   \va\-,    i 
bed   iv^Hw   ih"  resenta 
pected   to    :   arbour  lu 


1    ..  V. 


a  ined 


ae  ex- 


received    ir 


uai 


!  "-^  f    ' 


i''C-  \\\a'  troin  i ^lda  u 


I) 


aie  wa 


,  I  i.  i 


Oa 


111         i-   !    i   ^... 


ai    I  ondon.^ 


I  III  I  Le^-l      til        \  ■*    i  :;  ^  ;•-!»;;  ,     i  v 

la  t  ])eing  ollered  a  ic 

to  go  on  in  the  evenine.  to  <!<-  ^ 

Although  saa  Uaa  .aai  wuiii,  she  luuke^l  better 

than   vrhcn    she    went   to  take  t!a?   waters,  and 

thought  herself  so  restored  that  shf-  aa  Jit  ioae 

soon  to  pick  up  flesh.      Ihaee   d.ax  ale  r    she 

enieitained  the  Coaru  aah  L-aau-^ss  (hj  Raxcesiv 


more  recuperative  and  purifying  to  the  blood  than  those  of 
Tunbridge  Wells,  of  which  Hamilton  had  written  a  charming 
discription  twelve  years  previously.     To  judge  from  what 
he  said,  Tunbridge  Pantiles  resembled  a  scene  in  a  comic 
opera;  and  English  village  maids  and  matrons  dressed  as 
tastefully  then  as  Swiss  or  Breton  peasant  women  still  do. 
He  was  as  much  struck  as  other  French  gentlemen  of  his 
day  with  the  neat  ftet  and  dainty  shoes  and  stockings  which 
English  women  of  all  classes  wore  in  the  time  of  Charles  H. 
English  ladies'  feet  have  now  a  repiitatioii  for  bein^  clum- 
sily shod  ;  and  the  shoes  and  stockings  of  lower-order  women 
are  of  a  piece  with  the  rest  of  their  cheap  tawdry  or  slattern 
dress.     {Translator's  Note.) 

1  Courtin  to  Kin^  Louis,  July  6,  1676. 


148 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


at  dinner.  The  musicians  cf  Louis  XIV.s 
chnmber,  who  were  on  ri  tour  in  l,ngland, 
i^^^\  1  d  :  ^  the  repast,  and  Charles  came  b^ 
hear  th'  ni.  The  singers  were  Giles,  I  iH^rest, 
Godene^ch  ,  u:  1  Lambert/  the  lau.ur  m-law 
of  Lulli,  accompanied  them  at  the  spinnet  The 
hosteb:>  cisked  lii'  :n  lo  sing,  '  '  i  iic  iiic  ckva  vio 
:n:r.r  in.i-  ::  ^  nie  mate  con  zelos,"^  an  1  Charles 
took  in  q-0(ja  y.vci  irr-  Innc^lit^T  caii^^^d  !^v  her 
request.  If-  c  :  inued  to  give  to  L^juise,  in 
public,  tokens  of  triendship  and  regard  ;  but 
he  (  nh-  saw  ii  r  i  company,  diid  the  former 
intimacy  was  nrt  renewed.  T';  Dn  chess 
Maz.aii]  pleased  him  more,  and  he  bcuayed  his 
passnn  for  her  by  his  efforts  t-^  nke  the 
Dtii.iiL;-:5  ui  Lui'umouth  fancy  he  was  not  hot 
foot  afmr  the  former.  To  add  to  her  niis- 
fo^tMin  ,,  Luuise  hurl  in^  eye,  which  remained 
blaciv  n.  :  ^v/ollen  for  many  days.  The  sparks 
^^'  -^.:  C'.^nrt  quizzed  h^r  about  th^^  accn  i^-nn.  and 
;:i.n:hed  puns  about  the  ambiLuii  :.iiuun 


i  i  1  v.l  Li  L. 


1       T. 


.\  >    of   him    that    Borlean    spoke.       Lambert    was 
1  ).r.ctur  u:  Chamber  Music  to  Louis  XIV.,  and  obtained  a 
copyright  in  1658  for  the  publication  of  his  compositions.— 
Ar,:h{"cs  y./r.  X  .  8650.     His  daugliter  married  Lulli. 
~   ••  Make  me  die  of  grief,  but  not  of  jealousy." 


COURT  IN. 


149 


in  the  blackening  of  her  eye  to  transform  her- 
seit  Irom  a  blonde,  into  a  brunette  like  i  dame 
}dazarin.^ 

Th^  French  game  seemed  to  be  up.  Courtin 
and  Louvois  began  lo  neglect  Louise,  who,  after 
a  reign  of  six-  years,  was  apparently  about  to 
suffer  a  final  defeat  -he.  who  wa^  so  plucky  and 
fortile  in  resources,  began  i  lose  courage;  and 
despair  was  creeping  on  her.^  Courtin  w^rotc  i 
Li  ui-  to  communicate  to  him  a  scene  iii n  took 
place  in  her  lodging.  i:  went  to  \\A\  :n  r 
at  Whitehall,  and  found  her  weepino-.  ::)ae 
opened  her  heart  to  him  in  the  presence  of  her 
two  French  maids,  who  stood  wa'th  drvvnca^t 
eyes  close  to  the  wall,  as  if  glued  to  it.  Tears 
flowed  from  their  mistress's  eyes ;  sighs  and 
sobs  *  I errupted  her  speech  \\.  i  i.ni,.  nn^J 
n;ii!]  in/r  inuil  nnuiught,  trying  to  soothe  her 
wounded  spirit,  and  to  persuade  her  lu  hide  her 


ch  a  ^^Tin 


and    appear 


n*- 


mmc 


1 


kinof's 


altered    iiumour.       Louvois    made    uin    uf   in  r 
r^ngs,  and    coarsely  wrote,^  that  the  scene   of 

1  Courtin    to    King    Louis,   July   9,    1676;    Courtin    to 
Pomponne,  July  16,  1676;  Ibid.,  August  3,  1676. 

2  Courtin  to  Louvois,  August  6,  1676. 

3  Louvois'  rough   irony  was  proverbial ;   and    his  coarse, 
arrogant,   and    overbearing  temper    made    him    precipitate 


ISO 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


Li    Siorjiora    adolorata    ba^l    va^tl\'   aniised    his 
in:iic-i\',   .u;^i    liuit   the   ambassador    i; 


■  ':  L         i  .  vl    »    \. 


b. 


^f-^t:^, 


-hr- 


\\  i  "--i. 


J  L  i  I,-        it  >  V   1. 1 


t( ;   ulU 


no 


^\\  at  it 


i  1  i  V  I  i  L  ■      1 


\  \  irf">!"*' 


1        .        1       I      i        i       i      i      i       t     *,      .       !       1       1. 


1  • 


rf    Louise 

tilt-      1' rv:ULh     plenipol>_aUari'„:^      at 
would    have    met    with    unyielding 
It     wa^     necessary    to    keep    tlie 
•.  p  >    there    hi    th      beHef    that     the 
Prrt-;!iin'itl]    wis   still    on  the   pin- 
eal  favour,   and  so  able  to  support 

ai  ;    Count    d'Avaux,    \\\\->    repre- 
-  at  i.\':  Cnngress,  aa  a  a;"  1  ^achess 

whan  -.b''-  sat  oat  :  ti^nt-  tla-^  king  went  to  meet 
her  at  \\  aKUar  aa^i  pr'_oLa"veJ  iur  her  the  same 
feehngs.^  Some  wraks  la^  r.  Ccartin  a  *' -rmed 
thera  that  tin  klnrr  wa~,  tVenuentl)-  at  the 
''     '  ^'  .rr->an  ■  ah  s,  where    t!-^.-ia'    were 

iiree  different  games — hombre, 


foa-'  ai     . 

,.-,..  ,.,1 

the  pn;:c\ 
da    Crois 

^^ntCii    la 


i     i    I  '■.  ,.  ^,*.  Li     ' 


i  ' . 


rr. '. 


France  into  that  war  with  the  German  Empire  in  which  tlie 
Palatinate  was  ravaged.     The  letter  cited  above  was  dated 
August    19,   1676   and    is   in   the   records    of  the    Affaires 
J.:r.uigerci.  Anglderre,  tome  cxx.,  A.,  fol.  260. 
'   j^uy  7,   IU76. 


COURT  IN. 


151 


a  a  set,  and   thirtv-and-fbrty  ;  aiid  uatt    he  pro 
mised  to  attend  her  Sundta 


r  ■  n  "s  ;  '  'i 


( ,'  I .  L  "^ 


H 


I    i 


L  \ 


\  n 


a '  I  a  I  >  t 


i !  \ '  t  *  s  t  a 


'     I  /■  ■,   ':  1   -  ,■  i  ' 


e 


^.       I.    i  1    '       i 


\  \  ■' ;  ? 


1 )  a  chess  Mazarin. 

A  daut^htnr  of  \h.r-  km 


na    M 


i  I 


u  ■■*  <  - "  f  "* ' 


■\'P- 


lan  1  \\  ho  had  been  married,  almost  hi  childhood, 

to  t^H'   LaH    of  S'w-^"x,  formed  a   tonaea"  aittich- 


"r  w  i'     w  •  "1 


.  I      v„^  i  t  (,  I  i  1  L  ^> 


meni  iur  the  bca-aOui   a. 

arranged  to  meet  at  Iiis  dauL;iitar's  apartments. 

W'hf.m  he  was  there,  nobody  aam  haimrcu  tu 
enter  the  room  where  he  was.  Am  exception 
was  nat  evon  made  for  the  bVaami  ma-aaaiib.^ 
riie  chambers  of  I.ady  Sussex  at  those 
MCraoLed  by  her  motlior  when  -he  was  in  fa- 
\iuas  and  were  above  the  kines  cabinet  lie 
could  ascend  to  tiu an  b\'  ; 


V:> 


:   »     ■  1  ,    \  1   '   ? 


being-    seen.       Ahidame     Mazarin 


\  r  o  '-. 


riinninp'  in  from  ^a,  iarncs's  Palaap  tt'  i...ia\'' 
5ii  r5vx  >,  and  her  tctes-a-ictc  rrrr  i  harles  were 
prc^longed  fir  into  tlie  night  The  Fronch  am- 
havaa  r  aua  ai  led  nimself  with  the  Countess, 
an  1     ascertained     from    har    about    the,    to    all 

^  Courtin  to  Pomponne,  July  20,  1676 


i;2 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


r^CH  i ' 


Com 
year 


w 


appearancf'    rasiiil    meetings   in   her    rooms   of 

the  kine  and  lijr  vh_ar  iriend  the  iK. chess. 

Moved    I  \    a    less   political    design,    Courtin 
1  t:Uj  friendship  of  Mrs.  Middleton. 
Mrs.     Mi  Idletoi!     was     ''that     ^inous,    that 
r  fni'/nr.i!  ;ic   i^cnuty,"    who    coin'n.inauJ    Ura- 
iti    :i  when  she  made  \\^x  cidbtit  2X 
\\<   a'^   much  admired   twenty-five 
^n  :   was    ''the   belle"      f  W   he- 
-   f  M'med   like    a    fine  statue,   wn^ 
n  complexioned,  and  had  a  soft, 
skin.      There    was  some- 
rs,    and    in    her   carefully 
.va^  t'^^n  ni^f  f^">r  tim  taste 
\a:3    her    indolent    langruor 
h'    gallants  of  the   Court. 
wrth     talent.       mra.n;uiu 
r     without    obtaining  hers 
:  ived  her  at  the   1  reach 
eign    ky    rl^hi    ^A    keauty. 
''\'  ;mt   fnlln^vin^  \'ni]r 
svise,"    he   informed    i      aponne,^ 
c  able  to  lead  a  pleasant  lif^^  oypr 
Akiiiamc    Mazarin    came    to    dine    wiili 


heaiUi)-,    nii: 

L  i  1  i  i  i  '     ill     1 i  c  r     1 1  r  i  I 

o 

chosea   diction,  tli :> 


n  ->  T  f  •     ( 


"^  h  <■  '  I    ,     ■  t  '  ';  t  .         !  If; 

lost    his    iU'ari   -iii 


H' 


••  If    i    a 

e.v..iU  > .  M '._ 


iiai  c. 


me 


i  \ 


comp:i!vr  witii   Lady  Sussex.      I 

^  July  2,  1676. 


.^ 


s 


COURTIN. 


y\ 


\ 


153 


had  near  me  at  table  Mrs.  Middleton,  who  is, 
without  doubt,  the  English  Queen  of  Beauty. 
1  took  them  all  in  the  evening  to  hear  the 
French  musicians  ;  and  then  I  went  to  walk 
with  them  by  moonlight  in  ^t  James's  Park. 
There  we  met  the  unfortunate  Portuguese 
ambassador,  who  is  dying  for  the  love  of 
Madame  Mazarin." 

The  ball  of  dissipation  rolled  merrily  on. 
Festivity  reigned.  The  only  serious  man  at 
Whitehall  was  the  French  ambassador.  He 
sought,  in  keeping  pace  with  the  amusements  of 
the  Court,  the  means  of  furthering  a  great  scheme 
of  policv  which  would  have  reduced  Eneland, 
the  theatre  of  these  junketings,  to  the  position 
of  a  satellite  of  the  French  Monarchy. 

The  Duchess  of  Portsmouth,^  acting  on 
Courtin's  advice,  dried  her  tears,  affected  indif- 
ference to  her  check,  assumed  a  lio-ht-hearted 
manner,  and  kept  in  the  stream  of  dissipation. 

*' bau  has  just  given  our  Embassy  i  splendid 
dinner,  to  which  Mrs.  Middleton.  tii  Prince  of 
Monaco,  Sunderland,  Sessac,  and  our  people 
were  all  invited,  reported  Courtin.^    *'  The  King 

*  Courtin  to  Pomponne,  Sept.  21,  1676. 
2  Ibid, 


k 


) 


'34 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


of    Eii^i  in  !.   wlio   lind    dined    w m    \va^   nueen, 

•  ill  \\Ti-!i  \\--  W'.r-  :ii  table:   awA  \  have 


I 

i  i 


■nnn  ai]^:  -  iin^ 


1  I 

15,.  ^^  ..   l        ,  ^  -  r    .    .^^_   •   ^    -^  '  .    .    .    .    i    i 

witii  r;v.      i  i'.-  iiar,  a!:-.<i  ;,^  ■:  a  pleased  to  sa)  that 

aan\-,  at  liia    iJvichess   ^A    i'urL-niuaLi':.  ,    anu    tu 


[  .'•  HI  a'noi.i  a'  ^a*^-tii:'\  la ' 


!  >^'J  )'M  m» 


">  1   ,  *      f  .   . 


cV'ea 

T    '■ 

uciure. 

, 

, 

c?  'na 

t  '  "■■  ■     t 

.  I       i  .  ,  i  I  I- 

1   M   M    i 

!  a'  !  ■ 

aaa^'-    ' 

-M  •  naiC'  > 


)t 


t' .r 


a  a  a'^r 


ear; 


chess  de  Ma/aiia. 


'a:     i :  iciiu,    i  .:a:\'  ^a"s 


PV 


'1  n^ 


fr-. 


\' 


I  a  I  \  :-> 


•■  i    •■ , .   •>    1 


t  L  i.  c  ■ 


aboui 

afbi'  \\ 

eaa  A^  >'. 


1 


.   he  came  also  to  dinner,  t^^  meet 
t     r^^mouth  and  Airs.  Middh a    a 
I    ai  the  English  bcaali-     lia:  uiic 
I    :ai\a  most  pleasure  in    seeing.      But   what  a 
iKaaacr  of  watch-dogs  surround  her!  " 

t'  a    when    vrlting    to   Louvois 

iCc    ui    lunds    which    remained 

1  )     ^^  ssac  mission    Courtin  said  :  ^ 

\dd   Ik    \erv  -la^]    a   you  could  let  me 

ai    a  Iding  a   chapel    to    the 

ta':    l\aa'a--\v,    in    wladi    r^rayers 

Ltai  offered   ai.  i  >v   \ou,  ana  in  \>,iv- 

the 


t ;  i  ^ 


^1. 


'^-'    the   expenses   of  a  fete  which    I 

^  Sept.  24,  1676. 


♦     »« 


'i 


r 


j 


^ 


COURTIN. 


15 


ntia/r  pvaninQ-  tn  tha    Duchess   ATazarin,   Lady 


''^^ 


y  I 


'^'-*>-.  aaa    .ur^..    iianiiituiib   bi:-ua",    aii- 


:3.:>       I 


icn- 


LHi^^iic:^:!!  ul    i  uiav  :t  aai'a-> 
thr    Duke    .  f 


■^    'aaii;t;i:a    at    xn    lae 


ananiLj/ 
ladies. 

I    la-/w 
danca    a* 
caiaa_r\    a 


1  ork    a-.   aaaa\- 

1 : .  ..  ]         1       1 


i  •>. 


I    '  i 


1  nere  1 


:ui*-  aa,a  a:^  ;arai-o  tlicse 
I  :^-cretar\-  uf  >aat;^-  wiu-a 
(  M '/■>:_  a  If"',  i\']io  na"nas  to 
IX  hours  waihout  rarana  in  the 
0".      C'-hn'S,  aiaa  vouncr  ladies  (jf 


1  In  the  reign  of  Charles  II.  it  was  poh'te  to  style  a  young 
unmarried  lady,  who  was  not  a  professional  beauty, 
*'Mrs."  Courtin  styles  the  untitled  spinster  at  Court 
Mistress,  and  the  married  lady  of  every  rank  Madame.  To 
])revent  confusion,  I  adopt  the  modern  fashion.  {Trans- 
lator's Note)  ' 

2  This  was  evidently  Sir  Joseph  Williamson  (1623-1701) 
who  behaved  so  badly  to  Arlington,  and  became  Secretary 
of  State  when  that  nobleman  retired  into  private  life.  Of 
the  other  two  plenipotentiaries  to  the  Congress  of  Cologne, 
S  :i.  lerland  was  not  a  dancer;  and  Sir  Liohne  Jenkins  was 
not  a  Secretary  of  State,  but  Judge  of  the  Prerogative  Court 
and  Member  for  Oxford.  Williamson  was  a  Catholic,  and 
persecuted  as  such.  He  followed  James  II.  to  France, 
where  his  descendants  now  rank  with  the  Fitzjameses,  Mac- 
Mahons,  and  Dillons,  as  descendants  :  i:arl  Oillamson," 
and  bear  as  such  the  title  of  Count.  Their  births,  deaths, 
and  marriages  are  treated  as  fashionable  events  by  "  le  High 
Life  "  Boulevard  journals.     (  Translator's  Note.) 


I 


156 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


iition  an  1  note  are  to  be  asked;  and  frolic- 
:  damsels  will  not  be  able  to  say  that  I  do 

not  kno'i'  hov;  t^  treat  them  handsomely.      The 


w'Cii  ijiK.l. 


X     lA  i  i 


0UD_r  ^lU'.-'T  :-   \.i>   \ 

hombre  v   :h  t;; 

shall   leave    the 

c:  i;       :r.\  i .  to  their  hearts'  content. 


)  play  at 
^  I  chess  Mazarin.      We  both 

\\r\^   madcaps    lu    ^.kip    and 


thine   aboiu 


<yr 


S 


;n:  'iMic,  ur  let  him  know  any- 
H  would  say  that  I  do  not 
^  r  )\\  old.  Ikii  one  must  be  a 
:  r  to  o-et  on  here;  otherwise  it  is 
to  com-  t  !  1  iigland.  I  can  however, 
i  tiuii  although  I  must  handle  pitch, 
i  ini  r  solved  'v  t  to  be  defiled  like  the  other 
lureicrn  ministers  (and  among  them  M.  X'anbeu- 
ninL'hen     ihe    Dutch    minister),    who  all    keep 


u 


seles: 


& 


I  I  L,i  ^  t„i>. 


->  i 


euninghen^  is  as  much 
'  :v  red  as  you  were,  when  you  used  to  go 
to  Chelles.  I  i  a  i^uum  to  call  oa  Aiio.  Middle- 
ton,  whom  I  more  than  ever  regard  as  the  most 
beauiiiiil  and  amiablo  woman  at  Court.     I  would 

a  money,  if  she  would  listen  to 


a-.^  1 


liar 


ov  rtnres  from  me.      But  she  is  not  m  rcenary, 

and    once    r  lused    a    purse    containincr    fifteen 

haadrf'd    gold    angels,    which   Graaa  lU    nm  r^   1 

1  Ambassador  of  Holland,  who  was  for  peace. 


f. 


^^ 


I 


COURT  IN. 


157 


her.     Do  not,  therefore,  fear  that  she  will  get 
hold  of  the  balance  of  the  Sessac  fund." 

'*  The  balance  you  mention,"  wrote  Louvois,^ 
"cannot  have  the  pious  use  to  which  you  would 
apply  it  We  have  other  things  to  do,  besides 
building  Embassy  chapels.  However,  make 
use  of  it  until  M.  Demetz  pays  you  your  salary. 
\Vliat  you  say  of  the  ball  you  have  promised  to 
give,  makes  me  wish  to  be  of  the  company, 
althouo^h  I  should  not  think  of  dancinor  down 
the  Secretary  of  State ;  and  I  do  not  know  a 
single  rule  of  hombre.  A 'M  should  do  would 
be  to  feast  my  eyes  on  Madame  Mazarin.  and 
that  I  should  never  stop  doing.  There  is  much 
eood  now  said  here  about  her  which  I  find 
hard  to  believe.  You  may  well  imagine  that 
it  is  not  of  her  beautv  the  talk  is,  since  she  is 
assuredly  the  finest  woman  alive.  But  it  is 
^aid  that  her  tongue  and  disposition,  are  not  so 
charming  as  her  person.     If  you  were  insensible 


to  h^r  and  therefore  more  free  from  bias,  I 
-ii_  vdd  ask  you  to  inform  me  on  these  points. 
I  remember  having  seen  M.  de  Vanbeuninghen 
ai  :^L.  Germain  with  rouge  and  patches,  which 
the  courtesanes  of  Chatou  and   Passy  had  plas- 

^Oct.  I,  1676. 


158 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


drift  Oi 
Mazariii 


^4.    i     ,    i 


terec!      i  \v.-  cheeks      I  don't  know  wlirth^r  his 

I  ;;  Ijii  iiii  'rjssever  sends  him  i  Whitehall 
so  b'"-:!  it*^  :  i.  I  have  so  often  heard  <  f  the 
charms  ^A  Mi  >.  Middleton  from  de  Lii^iiiunt, 
th  it  I  should  be  glad  to  have  her  portrait/' 

oith^r  did  not  understand  that  the 
-  letter  was  to  cajole  the  Duchess 
V  repeating  the  flattery  it  contained, 
L  see  the  possibility  of  getting  her 
ovrr  to  tlio  Fronch  side.  He  evinced  the 
X:  I)  L  )  show  that  he  was  nui  >ub- 
11  r.  ii  was  not  he  who  was  her 
the  Prince  ui  Monaco,^  w'c^  was 
ic  :i  r  company.  Courti  i  supplicated 
11  t  lu  repeat  in  society  the  rumour 
V  a.  \\\  love  with  her,  because  people 
IV  h^  I^nd  avowed  it  in  his  despatches, 
in  1  h  would  be  a  subject  of  raillery.  So  far, 
she  had  not  In  die  least  turned  his  head,  and 
yet  there  v.\i>  c  i  a  day  in  which  he  did  not 
sor-nd  several  honc"  in  reading  in  her  card  room. 
Heciu  a  remained  ihu:^  uCLUpied  until  niidnicyht. 

II  r  house  wa-  aii  a-r^^eable  one,  and  provided 
ei")'   cuiuiii--.ny,      in-nnie    was  alwavs 


greatest 


juc^at^ 
slave, 


U  >.i  i 


Louvu.s 
t'a  I  he 


w 


cl 


\  il.. 


*  Courtiii  Lu  Louvois,  Oct.  29,  1676. — Autograph  minute 
of  Louvois,  tome  cxx.,  fol.  186. 


COURT  IN. 


159 


going   on.       Courtin    sometimes    watched    the 


p!i\,  but  nwre  often  sat  in  an  easy  chair, 
beside  the  fire,  reading  a  book.  S.  Real  had 
got  together  a  good  library  for  the  i  Hichess. 
Tih:  ambassador  found  in  it  Appian,  and 
the  Annals  of*  Tacitns,  translated  by  2\i. 
u  .  iblancourt.  The  Duchess's  conduct  towards 
the  ambassador  was  free  from  impropriety,  of 
which  hp  was  very  glad.  Biil  he  could  see 
that,  although  she  was  civil  to  Him,  she  had 
sumething  in  her  mind  against  him,  and  w^as 
not  frank  in  her  dealings  with  him.  i  h:  had 
alreadv  inf^anied  IVT  de  Pomnonne  oi  her 
annoyance  at  the  intervention  i  Kn  Charles 
and   the   Uuke  of  York   in   her  fav^ 


■^  1  1  1- 


I1 


avingr 


•-_  1  i  i>i. 


had  no  effect  at  Versailles.      He   was  half  in- 
clined  to   suspect    that    she  had   been    ^rnt  to 
London    on    some     intrigue     against     IVance. 
flu     Duchess  of  Portsmouth  told 

ainLa;sador    ihat   she  and    Iv in- 
come   I  )   > unic  secret  understanding, 
this  was   a   iealous  fancy;  bni   n   n  i 
entertained    liV  hen      Courtin  complained   that 

his  warnni  ^s    had   been   neMect^-n    w-   idle,  and 

i-^hjl  the  wipple- 


French 
ijs  had 
C'  rhaps 

t 

:3iiiCereiy 


\    I  •. 


\  V  annient  haggled 


:ion  Of  e 


f 


e ;  s ,  1 1  i  i. 


I 


t 


i6o 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


Ku-i^^^  :i-!'^  1  f  r  Madame  Mazariii.     He 

111  -       *     , 

I'M't;  \\i«Ui  1  h:j  III)  cause  to  rtjhciu  wi  uiis; 
1'.,-  kn^w  tliat  t:V"'  iaM\-  wa-.  ^leepl\-  in^'i-i'M^^L 

LiaU      LiUil      '  )p;  )L)rLdIilliu:3      WUiliu      <tri::5U     ^' 


iv 


11'  *:  **.'•  i 


)'  i 


w    c:  h 


iC 


l-.r.. 


k  ' 


to    take 

.....       '      F 


r  jv-enge. 


I 


iiiciu-  'ia. 


!l    ! 


^Ija);-;*:  (  u     lu,,  s    , 


a::a  a-sador 

i.ULi\"ui:5   n-u    If.)    lia- a   th!-,    a-,  a  i/iaah^ 

^:    aial    to    uiduce    lain    aot  to   a.)-v.a 

tri  a    the    Duchess    Aiazana    ai\va\- 

iriendly  manner,  and  was  a 

w.aaaa  ni  \-'_a-;a  aaaahlo  niA'/inf^r^,  iM^nuvois 
had  -a'-a  iv--r  ■iawciii^  ua  yaa.aa.^,  a.  !;i,_.  music 
^f  a  a-iiaf  \aha:ii  sh^^  thrammed  herself,  lie 
w'ua.d  a.iva.:  lj-.:--n  capUxaitcd  by  her.  She  had 
a  !aa\-  fra'aal   '^f   r'-!a:aacable 


ar< 


as.  iier  :5iLa" 


)\' 


!a'a:\     aaa 
tla^'u^ed   ti 


\\  ii'  i^)-J     r,UCl' 


I    ai<o   have 

{    r    -;    .'-^     a  a:    her    bricrhtness    of 

•     da     t    anamination,   which   never 

aa  lni;^ht, — when    the    card   parties 


of   the    1 

t!a'  naj-L  t 
anidassavi^ 


na:ia/---i    !  a's  ^iv 


ap, 


\\  < 


aavo 


piaasai  i  I. 
In^-or    ,  a 


•-,  M  ^ 


a  \ 


■.    %   ■    :    t     r  , 
V  V     i   u   i    i 


:   i'-^ii:^^  :^leepy/      I i^o 
'   allowed  t-  ^ nioy  this 

A\j\\Li  as  a 


'ing   >M 


r  )*n? 


lov'^r  .  ^f  iht;    1.  )a^;hess.       1  1- 
lativ^,'  it   Zkj    L_i,j   tUaa    ^aa    waiii    ai 
wlio   ofttai   caiiir-    1/ -    ilaa-   \aaa    rii"     I 

^  Courtin  does  not  name  this  amif 


f  y  '\  £   if 


lO 


dliddleton, 


II 


> 


COURTIN. 


lOi 


\v  i  a.v:-> 


P   rismouth    at     his    house,    or   to    spend    la 

c\"Cijaip  wiia   i  .ad\'  Sa- 
tilt'  secret  rep<.aa^   u^   I 

laiua-     .A  1  \ 

ta.iiia  waii  i 
In  a,  aai- 


•-.,  (   ;       {   )\ 


\  '^        t 


..  i.  -> 


■  tin. 


1  h,:i::hess  Aia/ 


'  1  X'\     '  I  f 


-Urs.  Middletaa^s  ..a|,ipar 


Courtin 

r 


s.  i  L"  V        U  elil  lC' 


lU 


bcQfan    a\-    aiiaiif^   a   duda;'.'.,]    descr'nt 

V,  hadi  iu    effaced  the  words  :    ' 

represent  aft^^r   midni-ht  thi,:  X^avmark-i  races 

waUi  die   i\\u  ladies."      1  la    tiaai   ciders    aia>  a 
aara..>aN  disquisiiiaai  on  k.idii.::d  a-,. a.,  ankles,  shoes, 

aaa  >t- H,:kn-igs,  \viiia;i    Nla..'\v-  daji    ae  wa-  la  a,  of 
idt;  pngorish  -ana-.,'!  kA    i.liplomaa\,  a,!a,i 


L 


t  ri 


dana's    wajrin 


(. 


Pans    bU..a'king"s,  i.)r   die  shoe^ 


1    can  I    enaarf- 


ladies 


bv  dk.dam,e  Desbordes.  11aa-e  is 
aeaiaa^-  nead-r  dian  v.ki  teia  and  ankles  of  liie 
English  ladies,  in  thela  wtH  fitting  shoes  and 
silk  stockings.  1  hey  wear  their  skiru  -hurt  ; 
anci  I  (>ft(ai  see  legs  so  well  u.irned  that  a 
sculptor  would  like  lu  mould  them.  Greer 
stockines    are'  modish.      1  lie  garter, 


•■ »    \\ 


.^^    —    , .  ^, 

gliinpbe:^  arc  od'ai  affbrtied,  is  belon"  ua-  knee, 
aiai  11  black  a^  !vet,  with  diamond  buckles. 
1  1io:jc    who    have   no   silk    storkin'as    to   wear. 

M 


1 62 


wuincii    ur 

^  t  1  i  i  - 1    V         V  ».  1  i  V 

expenst 


LOUISE  BE  KEROUALLE, 


•  k:,. 


^mnr^th    as   satin.      English 
beine  stockinMess    to    wearino^ 


i  ? 


b:AU 


uisfiguring  hosi-r\-."  i.  uv-is  pro- 
le  nev^er  thought  of  laughing  ai  the 
the  Duchess  Mazarin/  as  tiie  am- 
i  suspected.  Ua  the  cuuirar}',  he 
eatcst  regard  for  her  ad  always 
a   woman    of  absolutely    peerless 


**'] 


C  i  /'  a'  L .  r 
which 


pLUjiiCi  \ 
,1       .1 

t  n a  '^     \\- 

t    '  V    ;  ..  ;    ■      V  - 
Li,      ^  .  ■  ^  -       >  . 

waia  in 
intr-  a  \ 

L   i  i  i.  I    L. 


t  •        ! 


i 


)C>. 


1  nxliess  of   1     i  ismouth,"  ^  continued 

at     da     king    often    at    her   rooms, 

ti       pi  ace    where    he's    seen    most 

da  i  have  ascertained  beyond  doubt 

asses  nights  much  less  often  witl^  Ik  i' 

.   Ac   uwynii ,  and,  ii    i   lcui   believe 

a-    aa3st  aboat  with  him,  his  relations 

^  .ac:^:.  ui    [  (  riannnth  have  subsided 

.a a.     friendship.      As  to  the  Duchess 

i  laa    •  !i^  thinks  hor  the  finest  woman 

aer  saw   in   his   life.      Although    I   ^  > 

\     I  )    her    chambers    ai    :di     James's 

ean  see  that   she  hides   all   Uiat  she 


can   from   me.      I   am  greatly   deceived,   if  she 


i:^ 


aariQ^uinof    for    some    of    our    enemies 


p 


nere. 


*  Nov.  2,  1676. 


2  Nov.  12,  1676. 


I 


COURT  IN. 


163 


'    in  general  terms  I  have  advised  har,  that 
if  she  wanted  to  let  out,  she  should  d^j  xi  vvith- 

\  not  to  be 


a     \^"l^ 


out  causing  a  scandal,  and  in 
remarked  much,  even  in  London.  She  finds 
amusement,  she  says,  in  the  most  innocent 
diversions.  Every  evening  i  witness  scenes 
aa  her  rooms,  so  astounding  that  a  description 
of  them  could  not  fail  to  set  even  a  great 
minisp  r  like  you  laughing.  As  to  "Irs.  Middle- 
ton,  I  still  hold  I  I  the  opinion  that  shr's  tlie 
sweetest  woman  1  ever  came  across,  ui  any 
foreign  country.  She's  beautiful,  has  th^  air 
of  high  breeding,  is  full  of  talent,  and  yet 
modest  and  unassuming.  Were  I  no  older 
than  you,  I  should  be  madly  in  love  with  her. 
Tdit  T  am  forty-nine,  and  the  thiclv  ur  of 
London  depresses  me.^  Madame  alizarin, 
after  piously  attending  mass  on  Sunday,  dined 
with  me,  and  played  the  rest  of  t!a'  aia  rnorai 
ai  my  withdrawing-room,  at  battledore  and 
shuttlecock,  with  l.ady  Sussex.  She  claxro-ed 
me  with  her  compliments  for  you.  I  men- 
tioned to  Mrs,  Middleton  your  wish  to  have 
her  portrait,  and  she  answered  that  she  was 
infinitely  obliged  to  you." 

^  Nov.  23,  1676. 


/ 


1 64 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


COURT  IN 


16: 


>  T^       i  r 


Far  fr  'HI  t'linking  this  Court  gossip  beneath 
h".  ..ti  Tiiiun,  ihe  orrc.ii    ininisl=  r    I  ouvois  testi- 
fied    t!>    th''^    c'l'^'^at    pl'"a=^'ir"    wliir';    it    affV^rded 
hi;n,    an  1   ho^'ja    tiiat    he    should    be    kej^i    in 
formed     of     what     the     London    ladi^-    were 

doinc^.    ■ 

informed  of  the  hubbub  caused 

the   Kali  oi    Sussex  living  to 

n.  ^  )  an]   hve    in   the  country. 

in^^aiaraM''  companion  ui  ihe 
\\\  :  and  the  Duchess  of  Cleve- 
it  laa-  iiur  iicacl  a'  i-r^-ak  up 
[  I  husband's  aunt  and  mother 
a^^e  desien.  Thoucrh  vonna',  the 
i'\  a  aiorose  humoar.  ihe 
iN  :a  aiouth  mortally  hated  the 
>a^5u.v,  Lu^au:5c  she  thought  she 
direca  1  the  a uri^ue  between  the  king  and 
t'v  iK-aa'^s  Mazarin.  H  t  Charles  was  re- 
sol\-cd  uait  iii-  ia.aa  !a'lya^)ve  should  not  be 
deprived  of  ta^^  companionship  of  his  romping 
dai  a  r.  1  t  aess  of  Sussex  was  hardly 
j^n.ji'P  tiiia  a  clai  L  aivl  only  thought  "f  ^kip- 
pinor  ana  daauia^,  i,\\d  indulging  in  games  of 
r  aa  -  \rnn\  aiorning  till  night;  and  she  was 
passionatea.    iiaiched  aj  the  Duchess  Mazarin, 


He  X    . 
at  Whitehal; 

force  la-  \\ : 
SiV"  wa^  ti 
1  )...diess  M: 
land    had   ta 


L  .  I  U     i  i  i  I  i  i  1  !  .  - '-    \   . 


formed    i 
husb  a  a 

Dachess 

L ' '  a  a  r  ■ " :- -- 


who    appeared    in    her    young    eyes  a   heroine 
of  romance. 

T. ouvois  was   enchanted  to  read  about  these 
quarrels  and  intrigues,  and   encouraged   Cour- 
tin   not   to  neglect  them  in  writing  to  him  and 
the   King  of  France.^      The  statesmen  in   the 
employment    of    Louis    the    Fourteenth    w^ere 
remarkable  for  their  application  aal  thorough- 
ness.     But    they  were,   with  the  exception  of 
Colbert,  free   from    [niposity,  aial  were  above 
trying    to   gain    prestige  by   solemn    pedantry. 
However,  while  they  so  closely  observed  the 
Court,  they  remained  in  ignorance  *  a    the  vital 
forces  and  the  resources  of  England.      It  may 
be  said  for  them,  that  a  study  of  the  national 
spirit   and    energies  was    not   what   most   con- 
cerned  them.       They  had    aa   i  a  \    themselves 
chiefly   with   the  present.      To    hold    England 
back,    through    the    Court,    while    the    French 
were  conquering  on  the  mouths  of  the  Scheldt 
and   Rhine,   in  Flanders  and  the   Netherlands, 
was  all  they  wanted.      However,  it  would  have 
been  wise  to  have  tried  to  understand,  if  only 
with   the  design   of  preventing   their   hostility, 
the  men  and  the  forces  that  were  coming  up. 

^  Dec.  17,  1676. 


1 66 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


Tn   C/;   !'  i  ■  '    t^      f:  lur    Duke  of  Marlborouo-h, 

C'.';:-tin    ana     Luuvois    did    nuL     di:?ccrn.    !rM_*rc 
than  :i  -fan-h,  tn^^'  headed  libeinhi''.      (Jairchill 


T; 


V"^^    «-=t 


i   J 


If 


asKCil    : 

been  ncc'-!n' h,  ir  rlnnps  hf  w.^nlh  h..\-f  de- 
vnlnDf'd.  h:-a^  hn^^  n'^-t'>h'"'":  "H'^'v/i^K.  into  nn 
i'h;-triuLis    1- runch   general,  and    una    iha  reign 


f't  tn^ 


would  not  ha\'^"  liad  a 


•;()•"'• 


en 


w: 


rc;^n:  1^  .  i  i  I, 


ia.,.  I 


t  '^  " 


Ciairchill     a-ia-d,      na     tlv     French 

:i   C' )rrespoiKiaacc   was  upniicd  abuut 
an   ; -    already    In-ew    hhn,    and    also 


!    , 


<a'cuit. 


He    ia.d    a    r'T>utation    in     L-a-^'n    ahnni    was 
n   t    t'^   hi-    a  h  antao^e,  and    lai  I    traded,  in   the 


ci'jnaaCiiL 


J  Couri  ah'cles  in  which  he   i 


on 


his  fine  fienre  and  handsome  face.       I  hat  sort 

cA  \acf  aai:^  iVcqa^ni  ai  a  a.:  L'^ana-.  -n  U:-  \  alois 
kui^'-a  wia'!--  ar--ar-  i  -a-a/-^.  -:'  liiali  hitlni  and 
li  dit  par:^a:>  received  iiuaic)  and  jewels,  and 
s  aiaa:  nes  estates,  fr  n:  women  of  wealth  and 
(and  rv.  (  hnjcn  Liizabeth  was  also  gfenerons 
t  ih  beau  a  v:':^a  whom  she  diverted  herself 
laa  th  lai  a'  professional  beauty  was  not  a 
plant  ot  la:^a  a  ^i  n  ih,  and  was  ne\a  i  well 
^  Courtin  to  Lonvois,  Nov.  i6,  1676. 


' 


f 


4 


COURTIN. 


167 


naturalized    in    Englan-l       Tt    is    possible    that 


John     Ciianchill,     in     seekina 
France,   wanted  to  1 


HI 


nria-ik 


tiWi/.a 


iioi 


n  ! 


"  J.-3- 


reps    to    wau^ai    \\ 

sessed  and  what  advancement  he  ha  1      i  tained, 


and  desi: 


,1 


i    1  C 


had  la'ai  formed  a  i  re  attachment  for  Saah 
Jennings  liie  leading  belle  (f  lai  *  i  )  :hess  of 
York's  household.  At  a  ball  given  I  \  that 
princess,  the  loveK  lenuings  left  a  dance  in 
which  she  was  engaged,  nj  at  down  to 
weep.^  Churchill  had  told  her  h^-  wn  me- 
naced with  con^nnn  )i!on,  and  ordered  l)\'  ins 
doctor  to  go  to  live  ni  France.  Siie  believed 
him,  although  he  was  in  perfect  heahh.  His 
father    and    aa  ah 


were    torna    tmg- 


liii 


niarr\'  an  iieiress,  ugly  to  drthn-niiiy;  and  he 
and  Sarah  Jennings  loved  each  other.  Cour- 
tin informed  Lnnvois  that  the  bean  Caarchill 
had  pillaged  the  Duchess  of  Cleveland  ;  and 
tliat.   in  one    way  or    another,  iie  land   got  out 

blio-ed 


r?iie 


■\ ' ' 


-1:3      O 


^5 


of  hier  so   much   money,  that 
to  eo   to   France  to  economize  and  o^ain 
from     her    creditors.        When     the     haridsurnc 
gallant    had    robbed     her,     he    desert'   1     her. 

1  Courtin,  Dec.  7,  1676. 


i68 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


Pnssibly,  if  he  and  she  had  met  in  France, 
they  might  have  been  reconciled,  and,  as  he 
wa^  cool-headed,  insinuating,  and  intriguing, 
he  miglii  have  become  a  valuable  instrument 
of  France.  Louvols  drily  objected,  that  Mr. 
Churchill  was  "  too  fond  of  pleasure,  to  dis- 
charge well  the  duties  of  colonel  in  the  army 
of  the  King  of  France."  He  had  been  pro- 
posed for  the  command  of  the  Royal- English 
regiment,  which  was  in  the  pay  of  Louis.  But 
Louvois  said  he  would  give  **  more  satisfaction 
to  a  rich  and  faded  mistress,  than  to  a  monarch 
who  did  not  want  to  have  dishonourable,  and 
dishonoured,  carpet  knights  in  his  armies." 

Towards  the  end  of  1076,  the  influence  of 
Louise  de  Keroualle  fell  to  a  low  point. 
Courtin  pitied  Charles,  who  wanted  to  be  well 
with  every  one^  —  a  hard  problem  to  solve, 
surrounded,  as  he  was,  by  jealous  women.  He 
had  to  face  the  anger  of  the  Duchess  of 
i'urtsmouth  for  drinking  twice  in  twenty-four 
hours,  to  the  health  of  Nell  Gwynn,  with 
whom  he  still  often  supped,  and  who  still  made 
the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth  the  butt  for  her 
tickling  sarcasms.  The  rakes  of  the  town  met 
1  Courtin  to  Louvois,  Dec.  17,  1676. 


\ 


COURTIN, 


169 


the  king  at  her  supper- table,  and  said  freely 
before  him  whatever  came  uppermost  in  their 
heads.  As  for  the  Duchess  Mazarin,  the 
Court  of  Versailles  was  informed  by  the  watch- 
ful ambassador  that  Charles  went  regularly 
through  the  going-to-bed  ceremony  at  White- 
hall ;  and  when  his  gentlemen  and  servants  had 
left  his  chamber,  he  got  up,  dressed,  stole  off 
to  St.  James's  Palace,  where  he  arrived  after 
the  Duchess's  card-parties  were  over,  and  did 
not  return  to  his  palace  until  after  five  in  the 
morning.  It  was  evident,  then,  that  he  did  not 
spend  his  nights  in  the  lodging  of  the  Duchess 
of  Portsmouth.  He  went  to  see  her  often  in 
the  daytime,  when  he  knew  she  had  company 
with  her  ;  but  that  was  all. 

Louis  had  made  haste  to  profit  by  what 
influence  remained  to  the  Duchess  of  Ports- 
mouth, and  took  Conde,  Bouchain,  Aire,  and 
Philipsburg.  He  forced  the  Prince  of  Orange 
to  raise  the  siege  of  Maestricht,  to  the  great 
apparent  joy  of  Charles,  who  cried  that  that 
little  upsetting  gentleman,  wanted  a  whipping 
to  tame  his  ambition/  The  irresistible  cam- 
paign  of  1677  was  prepared.  France,  bounded 
I  Courtin  to  King  Louis,  Sept.  3,  1676. 


I70 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


by  the  sea  to  the  west  and  north-west,  by  high 
mountains  to  the  south-west  and  south-east,  and 
by  the  Mediterranean  to  the  south,  could  only 
extend  her  frontiers  to  the  north  and  north- 
east.^ The  Italian  wars  were  mere  showy  ones, 
as  the  French  statesmen  began  to  see  in  the 
sixteenth  century.  Coligny  affirmed,  with  a 
menace  in  his  eye,  that  "  any  one  who  tried 
to  prevent  a  war  in  Flanders  was  not  a  good 
Frenchman,  and  had  a  Spanish  cross  stamped 
on  his  heart."  The  English  statesmen,  from 
the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  understood 
that  France  was  bound  by  the  fatalities  of 
her  geographical  position  to  bear  down  on 
Flanders  ;  and  as  they  feared  to  have  a  long 
coast-line  to  guard,  not  only  in  the  Channel, 
but  on  the  German  Ocean,  into  which  the 
Thames  flowed,  they  came  to  look  upon  the 
French  as  their  born  enemies.  The  soldier, 
the  sailor,  and  the  civilian,  but  particularly  in 
the  middle  and  lower  classes,  were  imbued 
with  hatred  Lr  i'rance.^  Courtin  often  warned 
his  Government     f   this  deep-rooted  animosity, 


1  Due  d'AuDiFFRET  Pasquier  :    Elo;;e  du  Marcchal  de 
Ber'iuick. 

-  Feb.  15,  1677. 


COURTIN, 


171 


which,  he  said,  could  not  be  explained  by  any 
freak  of  fashion,  because  the  Court  and  courtiers 
followed  the  modes  of  Paris,  and  the  wits  of 
Whitehall  took  for  models  the  wits  of  Ver- 
sailles. Yet  they  sought  pretences  for  de- 
claring openly  their  aversion  for  the  French. 
The  king  was  not  only  held  in  French  bond- 
age by  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth,  but  by  his 
personal  obligations  of  an  unavowable  kind  to 
the  King  of  France,  and  by  his  hopes  of  future 
pecuniary  aids. 

In  the  records  of  the  French  Foreiofn  Office 
there  is  a  paper  written  by  him,  in  a  firm  and 
flowinof  hand,  in  which  there  is  no  trace  of 
the  nervous  ao^itation  which  shame  mi^ht 
cause.     It  runs  thus  : — 

**  I  have  received  from  his  most  Christian  Majesty,  by  the 
hands  of  M.  Courtin,  the  sum  of  a  hundred  thousand 
crowns,  French  money,  for  the  second  quarter,  ending  on 
the  last  day  of  June,  and  to  be  deducted  from  the  four 
hundred  thousand  crowns  payable  at  the  end  of  this  year. 

"Given  at  Whitehall,  September  25,  1676. 

"Charles  R." 


This  paper  bears  the  royal  seal.  There  are 
two  other  signed  and  sealed  receipts  of  the 
same  year,  dated  October    ist  and    Dec.  31st. 


1/2 


LOUISE   DE   KEROUALLE. 


'\'j  ijriiiality  was  left  out  in  delivering  them/ 
Charles  was  not  conscious  of  his  ignominy. 
I  he  four  hundred  tliuusand  crowns  were  the 
price  of  a  •  abrogation  f  Parliament,  which 
did  i:  I  meet  in  1676.  As  he  was  paid,  so 
he  served  the  King  of  France.  But  the  day 
of  reckoning  was  coming  round.  Parliament 
was  L  ^  meet  on  i'ebruary  25,  1677,  and  this 
causerl  uneasiness  at  Versailles,  many  weeks 
before  the  evv  at  took  place.  Courtin  was 
told  to  neglect  no  symptom,  and  to  try  and 
see  what  members  of  the  Opposition  were 
purchasable.  He  had  a  very  hard  card  to 
plav,  and  hid  nis  serious  designs  under  gay 
attentions    t  *    tlio    mistresses    and    the    other 


ladies  about  ihem.  iio  was  importuned  by 
the  Earl  of  Herkshire,^  who  had  two  years 
previously  come  begging  to  De  Ruvigny,  and 
complaining  that  he  had  lost  by  his  zeal  for 
France    a    pension    he    received    from    Spain. ^ 

1  Aff.  Etr.  Aiighierre,  tome  cxxi.,  fol.  213,  216,  307. 

2  His  name  in  the  foreign  archives  is  spelt  Barchis, 
Bacsha,  Barkshe,  and  Barker.  But,  as  Courtin  says  this 
Earl  is  of  the  noble  house  of  Howard,  he  must  be  the  eldest 
son  of  Thomas  Howard,  who  in  1625  was  created  Earl  of 
Berkshire. 

3  Ruvigny  to  King  Louis,  Marcli  25,  1674. 


COURTIN. 


^IZ 


Ruvigny,  thinking  he  might  be  useful,  lent 
him  out  of  his  own  pocket  five  hundred 
Jacobus,  which  he  did  not  expect  to  receive 
again.  But  he  assured  Louis  that  a  thousand 
gold  pieces  would  not  have  been  too  much, 
because  at  the  Court  of  England,  those  who 
did  not  give  high  pay  were  badly  served. 
The    Kinor    of   France    ordered    the    thousand 

o 

pieces  to  be  given. ^  But  they  less  stimulated 
the  zeal  than  the  cupidity  of  Ford  Berkshire, 
who  wrote  lu   Courtin  ^  to   know  whether    he 


C!    -^       i  I 


^^pcrct   service   aeent. 


wished   to  use   him  _ 

Courtin,  being  the  soul  of  probity,  recoiled 
from  dealings  with  Berkshire,  who,  albeit  a 
scion  of  the  noble  ii_iibL;  uf  Howard,  was  a 
low  knave.  He  at  first  merely  thanked  him; 
but,  as  the  meeting  of  Parliament  was  drawing 
near,  resigned  himself  to  ask  if  the  king  would 
authorize  him  U)  hi  the  earl  have  another 
thousand  Jacobus.^  Then  he  pi  srused,  then 
he  Lemporizeti,  and  at  kaa  aaau  a  qu;aaar  in 
advance,  to  make  sure  of  a  speech  a^..  a  i  any 

1  These  five  hundred  gold  pieces  are  mentioned  in  Aff. 
Etr.,  tome  cxii.,  fol.  199. 

2  Courtin  to  Pomponne,  August,  1676. 

3  Courtin  to  King  Louis,  Dec.  21,  1676. 


i' 


f 


»» 


174 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


anti- French  resolution  that  might  be  moved  in 
the  i  I  jiise  01  Lords.  There  was  no  lack  of 
men  in  the  House  of  Cnmmons  who  would 
have  received  money  without  any  sort  of  scruple 
from  the  French  Embassy.  T  ii  *'  would  have 
been  a  vain  expense  lu  bribe  them,  because 
the\-  \\'^,)..M  n-i  k-^'i)  a:i\-  '^.--^un  nut!';  f.  a*  the 
advantage  of  L'^iis.  Th^  whole  litiiise  of 
Commons  hated  1  iance,  and  w  is  determined 
tliat  ^'Av^  shnii]']  not  seize  on  the  Netiirn  land'^, -^ 

Couriin  b  icp-.^^;...:.ce  to  dirty-handed  English 
noblemen  was  n  t  tikm  hi  good  part  at 
Vernui!<>.         lie     was     drily     reminded     that 


thing  would  be  thought    dirt\    there,  which 

Vi  possess  the  Rhuic  dud 
wa-^  w-min:mded  tc.)  cnv-r  into 
r:nan,  a  Sf^cr^tar\-  < -i'  Mate, 
:a-  !  )uke  ca  \'ork,  w  \'\k^  was 
art"  hundred  jacobus.^  But 
'  ^aia   lae  Duke  of   Lauder- 


enabled  a  a  W.\ 
Flanders  ;  ana  11 

re!  a  1 1011^?  w  a  a  l_. 
a iivi  Li. \'> ' a  i. ;  I' '  i  •  I 
to  be  boiiL^lit  few 
he  fuaa  \  11  a.aa: 


\.s^ 


instructed   to  qop  wliat  he  could 
do  throa.  a  ua:   1  ^  chess.      The  kingf  of  a  iwnce 


\hr. 


cj> 


hi"      if     ^.i-f 


!i    !a  -    while    tn  writa   witli    lii' 
u  Aai  a.aaa  ^ja  uar-i  subject. 

^  Courtin  to  Pomponne,  March  8,  1677. 
^  Ibid.,  Dec.  28,  1676. 


COURTIN. 


175 


Courtin  replied  to  Lou  vols  that  he  owned 
that  the  Duchess  of  Lauderdale  ruled  her  lord. 
But  the  Duke  having  always  spoken  against 
men  high  in  the  service  of  the  State  accepting 
presents,  and  his  worst  enemies  admitting  that 
his  hands  were  clean,  it  was  hard  to  find  a 
way  to  bribe  him.  His  wife,  a  cautious  woman 
evidently,  was  very  anxioiw  li  at  he  should  stand 
well  in  the  eyes  of  Parliament,  and  timorously 
afrairl  that  h^  might  lose  its  good  opinion.  It 
was  not  therefore  certain  that  she  would  listen 
to  proposals  from  the  French  embassy;  and 
if  overtures  a  are  made  and  rejected,  the  matter 
would  get  noised,  and  ilie  Parliament  would 
be  more  dogged  thari  a\a.r  iii  a  policy  of  re- 
sistance to  France.  Nevertheless,  as  she  was 
eairavagant  in  spending  ai  >aa),  dwA  liked  to 
have  ever\  a^  a  thinu^  she  saw,  Courtin  thouo^ht 
that  i  .ouis  micrht  serai  h  r  a  r^ift  of  eleofant 
jeweller),  Uj  accept  which,  the  a.mbassador 
would  tr\'  to  ka  1  her  without  saying  anything 
that,  if  repeated,  might  do  mischief.^ 

With  Charles  there  wa-  no  need  for  beating 
about  the  bush.  It  was  best  to  go  straight 
to   business    with    him,    and    tell    li'a^    that    it 

^  Courtin  to  Pomponne,  Jan.  14,  1677. 


i 


1/6 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


depended 


,  i.>, 


\\  cf 


n 


\r  i  ^  (  •  f 


I  ■» 


-^   secret  pen- 


.^1 


111  til  aiK 


«  M  .  i 


Li  « 


nued.       1 


ici 


ho 


to    Hi 


r^    k:v 


( -f 


ul    (%r-^\-   c\-n 


'       !   "^  . 


f  )[);j< 


•r  ti 


OriltlOIl      or      thO^C      WHO 


w 


f    I  t 


:u  n  )\-c 


.Li- 


nioii(:\',  or  ar^iicini<.:v,i   to   t;oN"   iL,   niiL'nt 


^s  J 


(:n< 


1   1 


V  presents    ot    cnainoai^iv"    aiui    j-rer 


lii]  ueur 


It 


was  ci.Tii iPiihiiiii 


1 


( i; 


)   ''ji 


IIK.. 


\\ ' 


t- 


,l> 


!       1 


inlornieu,  now   ii\"e  or  s 


fi 


■  IX  dozi-n  holilrs  ot    that 


HIO 


n  t 


tnt:    nalit    ni<)r]ii:iu,   sotD-m. 


a  i  1 1 


jcrs  f)i 


1 


ariianiL-ni 


■cai 


.^L 


tni-\- 


^^ 


( ■    t 


ia-  naiat  (A  cninna'  wata  eaeii  otiKa*  on  (laatni 


da-  H 


«  )Ur50   e: 


af   C 


oniUKHi^, 


\  a    t' 


H/   cal.)ak   \\«a'e 


!  >  -^   ,    I  ,.     !         -^  > 


t  these  clanajrs 


C 


oarliii  was   hi 


>..- 1 1 1 


!  V':) 


1 


i  \        (,l 


xaa'^c   to 


L  a  >  i  i  ( > ! 


-X'u, 


can 


T Tl  t -f  1  f- 


lilli    J. 


n 

J    L 


e     i  1  K  \1.  V 1 


)*.at<  r   to 


:a- 


.  Li 


<..:  1  a  I ' 


TOssa^ 


.(  )W 


nKn 


al    a 


.  T 


It     tlie     Daclass    of     Fi,a'ts!iaait1- 


C( 


m 


i-    i    /  V  fc 


n\'   with   the   I 


je, 


eous    Lath'    Heai 


v..  1 


ivi 


entered  as   t 


1 


ea 


v\  <!.■->       I  >l' 


ni 


np- 


::>*a  V  L 


C' 


II 


e    Cijaa'a 


a..  1 


ti 


th> 


:inii)a 


C 


;tnar\',   \\ 


1  i 


i.ivUes   ta 


l-vi. 


.lioa 


^^a'  u  )] 


■  w. 


u(ju     Oi;ai 


.cat    f 


(  > 


( )^ 


"    '  ai[aaa. 
Coarlin 


H    S 


:•?  ■: 


ll( 


.^IJi 


\   UM-ial   to   Ci' 


the  two  r 


re 


1  ^.;.aiesses 


i    V 


a '  a,    ( 


oou 


COURTJN, 


m 


ence,   bi; 


ae 


lad 


ies    waai    (Spoused    their 


f^-a 


1  t 


u  <  1 1 


:|       )! 


ca 


'iU 


:(  K JN 


.re 


on 


:~>  I  1  i  i 


e  1 1 


L  (.1  I  i 


i    I    i  »  4   i    i    !    i  >   ,.     i 


<l 


tht/    m 


orais 


jf  the    1' 


Coart. 


\  \,     i    i    i  "v  .  !    !        i  . 


na^t   ha\'(^  caused 


t: 


■n    1 1 


I    \ 


\'  <  r  ti 


!    aiUi 


"i  1  n  ■<  m  :  r 


nasi 


lalarer^t 


Liia 


n  ■ 


t  i  i  I  ^  I 


s     '. 


a's    tor    \^ 


>c 


e\- 


VI  i.    1 


1   cue  o 


1     til' 


w 


rKor    r 


was    or( 


M 


iz.uaa 


\  \ 


\    ui\aaa 


a    tne    rooa 


a 


it  a 


,e    at    w 


K^ 


IS    of'    thai'    I) 


4  L, 


ilo-S 


saoaio    enter    uu 


I 


.oaiSi 


Kca'ca 


L  >.  ,'         i   '  s  i  \         <. ' 


ca    cerenion\ 


uniosr    a 


ao 


a:)mer 


.t.    L,ca:J\'     1  I 


■ve\' 


cort.iin 


dian 


1. 


a. 


i  I  >  b 


coin^ 


\\s  }\ 


1   Si 


1    !.  I    1    1 


X>Vi\ 


.ni\'   otla-r   \V(Mna: 


;u.i    watii    iaa' 


Xe' 


a  a    I  i 


la  I  ( '  >  s .. 


1 


■■  t 


ae  eoa 


I„u!v    1 


Li  iO 


sen 


I)^ 


.ica*. 


.nan  Xi.n 


1 1 ' 


rve\"    to    thaaa 


:(annnna.'raN  r,iic 


V.  i    4   %.      J 


1    <     .    l- 


I  Ovi.J: 


title- 


'^  a' 


uian 


>i  ( 


( i 


1     1 11 

>     lit 


( )i 


I  '.     I  U  I 


e    occ.a 


:i    of     \v 


h( 


Ciia: 


i  I.: 


inu 


i): 


1      c  t 


at! 


( ) 


!';    I 


A 


i    tnt 


.Vol' 


1  h- 


0!  ixN 


.es 


aui  a 


1 1  a  I 


L  t 


a  )' 


v\  a. 


1  i : !  s  N  ( 


ei  vaiitx' 


.  V  ;  L  a 


-  1   )1  ,    s 

1   t    i     i    *■     4 


Ir 


i  1      O 


t       til 


t  t.ii.V.        Civ 


■SN 


i'>nnfHj    L 


r    w 


a   tao 


t .  i.  i 


eii^ss 


I  > 


•a  c  ♦■♦■% ni  1 1  h     a  'M" 


tar^ 


X 


178 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


w  i\ 


(   >  : 


wa^    nt     trie     buld,    l:iUL;hin 

i.  '    '  J     '  •>.  V.    '    '  .  .       till         I  I  i  I  '■.  i         t  I  .^  i\,  I    ',.1 


a 
^5 


,  t 


..  L  ^  i  i 


i\  in-^   n: 


»:     1"  fan 


ro 


V:(^ 


t>  t    ^   !  1 


aOing      iL 


f  -,.■•.  t- 


i.rcri^au  aj  iici',  nistcavi  »a  lo  tar  wcrpinor 
\ailMr/.  \\l\o  had  ia->!  l^one  out?  ^hr-  \'r;\ved 
taai  la-  would  laav-r  niLa'u  |.a"olil  i:.i 
because  the  K;a^  <  i  1' nglanc'  aas  her  or. 
a*  .::iui'a.i;  CMiapaa:')-!,  aa  '  lik'^d  r"V  \aV  ihc 
best.  1  la  oti;  r  ladies  had  heard  ol  a  -:  iax- 
urioas  laa^aa--^  "i  M  i^s  Nelly's  under-clotaing, 
anLi  a-ir'U  \i  they  could  judge  of  ii  f-r  tht-a]- 
selves,  \\'aia.a;t  aa^r^^  ado  she  let  lia  ai  raise 
eacii  |riiiL<  .u,  ua  la  one,  and  before  all  in 
the  room  eaananr  them  on  her.  ''  T  a^^vrr  in 
ia\  life,''  said  L-.aaa,  "saw  such  thorough 
ciarinliness,  neatness,  and  sumptuosity.  I  should 
sn^aa  i  ^  a r  r  tliinor-c;  that  we  all  were  shown 
if  M.  de  la  aa  \o  re  still  Foreign  Secretary. 
Lui  with  }'oii  I  must  be  grave  and  proper; 
and  so,  Mn-iaur,  I  end  my  letter." 

*' Miss  Nr^ll^',"  mother  of  the  Ear1  of  Hr^m^- 
f  aal  \\a^  N-  .\  ViWmai  ;  and  Lad\  !  iarvey,  with 
whom  "^v  pa'  1  th^^  visit,  had  just  formed  a 
tender    nv  ndship    a  a-    die     Duchess    auizarin. 

'^  ^r  rtsmouth,  ana  Iier 


c;a 


1. 1  ^ 


'  tin-  Daahcss  oi 


hatred  was  aiuic  danorerous  than  2\cli :,  j-:^ls. 


COURT  IN. 


179 


Lady    Harvey  was   tlai 


t     -■-«  i  :t  I 


M 


,  \  It 


K       \  \ 


'-N  ( 


celebrated  as 

tiers  in    na-    L's^.ait 


i  I,   to 


;U]a  )•]• 


a  i  h  A  i  \  , 


rri] 

and 


L  i  i, ' 


\v  I T  r  \ 


!i 


was    o!     iii.-r    1  ,:i 


r  t    .  r  %  t'     .  I  t  •<  ,   , 


,11     tile     iaole    ui    jLl     Kcnard 


A 


vc'Iais : — 


"  Le  bon  coeur  chez  vous,  compagnon  du  bon  sens, 
Avec  cent  qualites  trop  long  h  deduire, 
Una  noblesse  d'ame,  un  talent  pour  coiidLUic 

Et  les  affaires  et  les  gens, 
Una  humeur  franche  ct  1ihrc  et  le  don  d'etre  nm'e 
Malgre  Jupiter  meme  et  les  temps  orageux. 

Her  animosit)  t- v  irds  the  Duchess  of 
CI*'\' land  ]av]  probably  tlie  sain^-  cause  as 
her  hatred  for  the  Lkichess  ui  iajius mouth 
and  her  sudden  intimacy  with  the  Duchess 
Mazarin. 

Her  contemporaries  spoke  undisguisedly  of 
her  vices  •  and  she  was  brouglu,  by  a  satirical 
dramatic  author,  upon  the  stage  under  the 
name    of    Sempi^onia}      The  actress  who  per- 

1  Courtin  to  Pomponne,  July  20,  1676.  He  often 
speaks  of  the  brilliant  play  of  her  wit  in  his  despatches, 
and  of  the  bold,  gay  character  of  her  mind. 

-  Colbert  thus  gives  this  threatrical  event.  "  The  ways 
and  doings  of  Lady  Harvey  have  been  given  undisguisedly 
(au  naturel)  under  the  name  of  Scmpronia^  and  with  great 


i8o 


LOUISE   DE  KEROUALLE, 


f)riiv;4   i\\'-   [);irt    iH-H-rt^    an    applaii'l'ii^:'    lirup^^* 
WM-^     inipn-^' >:i!;  i  ;     but     wli'-n.     uwii;'^     t^>     liit: 


T 


iicu.  -u-^    ciLiract-i',   wum  ii   tiv. 


1  '  a*t>in«  siitii     saiu     wa-^    !  ^lix'    sf », 

^  »  '  „  <.  I  L  v.,  i       I  i  i     .      I.  i    L  i  L  I  i      til,.      ,     I        >  I  t  •     I       L  .  i 

d^^  Cr^'i'-.^\-'>  h..:tt^r-  n:i  liii-  >ua'- 
oi  ru^finhianct'  with  th^-  Saur- 
nn   the   \ac'^-   uf  t!a/   natrir'ian    ia^ 


I  ha,' hi •-^'■1  of 
»■  'v;  a i:-^f '  tile 
'L       (huh  a -rt 


■  t    !  a  i  \' ' '  T")  ra  n  t  ^ 


I  1     V     •.       i   J  t  I   1 


4    Rr^aic 


M.    K 


iXTrilivjiia    iiUarpralau.  m    a    iuL 


i        L' 


1  ...a\- 


Uir\'-\"    laa-^tar,    nis    r-ntiia 


a  I  a=  >.,i aa,* 


■^     T 


L  '    U   i   i  1  . 


la  i  1 


aa'  r-,  and  ia;r  iiaa'aJ-^  in  .^^ -■; 'a-aa;  / 


I  ia^^f.: 


"a    t'l    lie 


aa'"iai--^  cnra, :  a  a '  * 
a->  >atLa  aiiaa'-  \^\  \\\'-  C^^aia  of  \ha'- 
^'v'ia-ai  \';a=^  iV't  iii'^an^ibl^''  to  th^ir 
d'lie  h'^reiofn  Aaaira  rava;rdb 
of  tliat  yaar  ar^'-  fall  o!~  dh-.-rtha„:  sciaa-..  hi 
\\aiiCii   tHa    iJiaLi:Da  ^liiaaa  ni^j  cuacLUjiiie:^,  cuiu*- 


tr^'at- 


1  aa  1  i '.jLa-)    ^5 1 ',. 


applause.      W-iv  ■:  ihc  irnpr.^uiunciu  a   the  actress,  and  licr 

rc^:^n-c  ay  I  .aa>  Ca-acmainc's  fava:;:-/'  T  Duis  XTV  an- 
-vr.  :.  '  i  rail  \.  -  a  nni*  h  ai  a  sement  the  curious  circum- 
a  ai -^  \v;u(  ii  \uLi  wr  aj  a)  ihe  Sieur  de  Lionne,  and 
which  he  cunnnuiacatca  t-  la.  }  v:3ici  Jay."— 4^:  a.//.,  lonie 
xciii..  fbl.  aU-  ^■'-^'-  '^-  i  '*^9. 
^    Giu-y.,,  a  . 


I 


COURTIN. 


iSi 


tiers,    and   the   aiaaa--aaaura   aaaaa-iiiuad    aa   laaa 

arc  tna  actaia^       I  h(;\' aia:  dascrdaiai  so  \a\adi\" 
UKit,  aiua)a:_ai    naaia-    than    two    CfaUurios    haxa:- 

*-hi|'^''h    Siaia:    ti)t:y     ware    iic^CrUacd,     thc\'    aaaUi 

no  inarc  cho   ]ion<s,  wia/n    tlaa  (hist\-  iaac«aaj-.   in 


•^  i_  1 1  a .->  o  \_a  i     a i  a     1 1 1  a li c     lu 

1    lit'     K\\\    -'  > 


\\\)    uuar 


^a-aresses  -^"  ^"'-■•-    '" 


tL  \  araaiiias  waara  auiies 
^*i  ^^^c^^'  ^^^ial  laaaa  an^i  Hiaaaaa;taaU  aaaaa^e- 
iiients.        0\\v   ol     tiiani   uais    naiowaaaii    i\a-   iii?/ 


attic  sah  ol    iiar  viois.      A,nolhi:r  ca.aiaa 


•^  !  >  !  t      a  ,  •  r 
a  V I  i  t     ^  J  v  i 


Ciai\a,a'aatau 


.    a) 


j  H.naa     aiUi     cuwailaal     Ul>U.a 


a 


I^'onalna  .ua!   IdaoiKa  auil   e 


V. '  a 


\a'^!iUaia\'  hacana^'' 


tho  mother-abbess  (»f  liic  Courl.      d'iao  ah  haU 
nitaah/ai     enough,    wla-n    tired    iA    oha.a-ara     a,) 


oevolta   uaaa'  nun 


us  LU  baaaaajs  Lima 


i  a  a    ■  a  < '  \' 


^i'^tanad    Willi    ^■aiiuhie   pleasura   lo   liia   A^. 


a  nil     laaaa 


S;  aa    a  'f 


■s    u!     Ahia-^naai    aniJ    ]V)ar- 


iiaaauta.       ?\  a'aaa  da 

n  >. a  i  I     ai  a-  .a  i  a?.      i.\\\     rsi  a  j  ;_^^^ 

^nha'   \\\    iiaa  seciaaaaa    a^a^'  soia  ioiaiaa.i  a 

"      '•        t  1  1  •  •  ;  •         1  1 

-  *-0  a  -      it   !  \    a  a  >■     •  ii      la.-     aa  s  rt  ^/  'an  ^  n      ari'""  f  n  r  ^ 


rncaaS.    \\  il  >    apnaUol    a\Va\ 


' .  a  i  V  a     a  i  aa  . 


waaan 


t  -.' '-  a  >.  a  a  i  I  a  ■ 


la)     \  luUaii:,     ha!r\'C'a   aa  ti   ]au<aiU- 


tHan.iia'  ''aaaa^i'va'   to   tloa   waariiL       Ha! 
i:xaa'|..aiiai    a/1     alr:^.     hiidalaa.aa    laia 


a  1        1 


a  )( 


(diarniini^-    CMUiifa^ss    c^f    Si 
shrew  ibh    buiaih 


.aa  ani' 


1.   I    i    !    ".    t 


L  i  1  e 


h.  nnine-a  a  a^  ^^>a'   xaaaa^a    laraaaj 


l82 


LOUISE  DE   KEROUALLE. 


to  vhr-^^ar.  th-  ladies  nf  nnnJitv  .u  \\\'-  Court 
ui"  Cluirlc^.  11.  \vt;rc  i"ri\^)k)a-,  dirl  vulgar  demi- 
reps.     T]i''\'lKui.    iiow-^v-r,   t'O'--   qo'ilitv  nf  per- 

knew   where    to 
i^    transparent   as 


"V^    C  '     i.     c  j 


ind    iiO"\'    wcr 


ii.u't;    ihoin, 

with   aiu'   ot    ihcni    a   1 


.U  vV  it 


1  1  .'  )• 


'it:  lu  carry  on 


)[ 


'It 


ina.'!l 


1,1-  ^  I    J I  i 


( onfusion 


I  I    i  :    I 


t  t   !  (^ 


,  ■\r 


lO^. 


1    1  1 


tni^tn. 


.•> 


c  •  t  (  » 


.  r 


a    laose 

\\  :a  '.  w  a-n    a-w"    l^  ^    oa-'m, 
a  ai    sona  waaa.        i  a     lais 
resT'-ct     t!a-\-    v;^a-p     at     a     ili-a^-^vantaire    with 

LIT'  I    •  '  •         1  ,     '         ' 

uai^'■   oa    ivaraa..Uia,  \\aa_»  naxar  -aKl  anylliing 

int   t^   --aw  aaa   wan-^;t„»   r*'t*cence, 

aral     :,fcrccv    e^ve    iwa",  -waitii     tiie 

ivent  ot    ahiaa- 
Ta:      a    ],.     \{    a 

luid     ta<'     >a:  a!  ■ 
c[^■aia-  '  a'  t:]r    ia 

feelina  tiii-^.  ^'>''^' 

tr\  ing    I')    h-iach    th<^    king    from    a;-     I'Vench 

i.aa  aaaia,   an  i  destroy  her  influence.      Courtin 

nwinaa''M'1    tn    rr-mahi    o!i    o-Qod    tei'w-    with    the 


^L  arai, —  the  uppei  iaaah 
aa'  \v>i-  i=:Maa\-  -ca ndalous, 
•enetraia'n     and     diplomatic 

.ai  ;   aa-  i    la  r    Kii'tlish    ri\ails, 
ta   a   n  .  laa  a  iiile  they  were 


c^ 


L    N 

1 


Lhi^aasses 


>       ■■■!  1  t       •    •>     , 


English  i'Liticoat-party 


that  wa-i  h--]iin(l  law  ^f  them.      !!:>  despatches 
Uiuui  watii  anecdotes  illustrative  of  the  difficulty 


COURTIN. 


183 


he  had  in  not  offending  any  one.  The  am- 
bassador havl  10  enter  into  their  anuisements 
aathout  once  forgetting  that  he  represented  the 
greatest  king  in  Europe.  ili^  i^allani  and 
<aaaious  aa ainers,  his  wit,  ;aai  orobabK-  !iis 
broken  hnglisli,  whenever  he  vent  ah  to  talk 
ia    th. a    !aa_^a:ige,   greatly   helped    ia-^    address. 

advantai^e   to 


F\aai    hia   ^nia]1    stature  was    an 


him  at  Whitehall  and   Si    a  aas's.      The  nobly 

born  and  ennobled  iad'/-  tat;ra  tr^  at^d  aan  as 
a  ciaaanaw  toy.  Meeting  lani  at  tia-  taeati'e, 
he  wrot^'  to  laaivois,  Lad\'  Ilari'^yand  V\'{-, 
Middleton  ar.  posed  to  go  and  ^\i\}  mree  days 
lat'i  at  a-  house,  each  accompanied  In  icne 
de  scs  amies,  Mrs.  Middla  a  tai;  1  i  this 
intended  invasion  on  the  i  V  ncii  embassy  at 
tho  1  ^achess  of  Portsmouth's,  aaa  \  ..-Ax  \  farvey 
at  the  Duchess  adizarin's.       Ida    two  duchesses 


\'ow'^d    dww  sliould    inja    ta 


lieauclerc  was  of  the  party,  although  she  and 
Lady  Harvey  were  at  daggers  drawn  and 
cotdd  iiuL  endure  each  other.  The  Duchess 
Mazarin  had  always  refused  t/^  break  bread 
with,  konise  de  Keroualle,  or  to  eat  at  the 
same  table  with  her.  But  Court  hi  managed 
to  keep  all  the  rivals  who  were  imd^r  his  roof 


\i 


84 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


i  >i 


0\'P'l 


1  '  t 


)1 


species  o 


horn    ii      th-;ji:i    l  "   most 
:c  ;   aii'l    when  lie   (e-:i\-ere<-I 

i     'J'    t  "'^  i  i  l'_*  ti  ^  J  1  clll'-l  _■>  i  ^iZcii  ill 

f  imeri-^'eiment.   in--/   came 


in /hi no-  ]] 


\V-:lt 


'uni:  eni£  ci 


-.     ,  1 


<.  •  1 


l.l 


)    *  w 


I  ;  U  t 


i  ieine'  ah<^nt  a  reconciliation 
I  te  1 'Lichess  Mazarin. 
riv  «  Hieen  e  itiierine  resio^ned  herself 
p  \\\ia  tiie  p(  .. '  r  of  the  1  '  ^  aess  of 
d,  so  the  Duchess  of  r  rt-niouth 
I  .ariiea  I',  stand  Auu  Gwynn  and  Uic  uiaer 
street  and  stac^e  harlots.  She  also  had  to  bear 
the  reigii  u:  iiurtense  Mazarin.  'la.  reign 
v.a^  III  ioa^  i  a  a-  at'  r  -f  doubt.  Hortense's 
s,f>u~f:  aaa  aaced  her  accession  to  the  I  r*  raaa 
wriM  t^aaigiit  the  news  of  such  a  rapid  vicl  )r\ 
too    aj  irv^lloiis    to    be    true.^      The    discarded 

alked   of   Charles  Hke    an  a^*- 


I. 


Tvl  M 


t  *i 


i  n  -^  r  r-  i  ' .  ~r  (  ' ,  ;     T  .  I    T  i  » 1 ,  1 

4  i  i  .  .  I.  i    s.  »  I,.,  i.  ^  ,  >   i       i,  >   .'      1  i  I  i  v  4. 

nn    fhr-    cnr.  u^r'^    x^T 


h'^    fr'-ads.      Coartin  was 
rue,  and  brou^'  '   a  is  leijal 


:uJIle.  Scudcn'b  letter  to  Buss'-,  July  T4th,  1678 


COURT  IN. 


1 85 


ti' 


nen   t-)    n^ar  in  aiauxf-sa 


Lo  u  i!    la. j  k 


.  n  / 1  i  .7 


wauaa  supports;:  i  ai 
He    began     by 

ouise  de   Keroualha   wis 


I    IkI\ 


t  \   '  !    t 
\V     ill 


as- 


!,  t    i    i    >    i  L   i    J  ' 


aa:"v-a    lias    c"Taaait\s    taul 


Madame  Ma/iarai  -laasaK'  .ibaaJuued  hersell  Lo 

Cliarlss — not  far   either    iove    ^sr  aai^)ition,   but 


^an 


1  \  •    I 


l>v_;CaU^3L:    :A\'C 


Vti'^-l       ii 


U  »  '         K 


■;^i  *         ■      1      .     i 


a'  forced 


waaiu   oi-o  u-  do  far  aioney.      If  aia 
uf    iKn    beinor    tiira-i    iatn  a   (s,5s\on: 

t(>   ii\-;^   wail    ia-r    i^artufte-riddea    las,,.... 

aa^ia,  as  easily  !nduc(-a  a)  go  bariv  a^  l\as^_ 
^is._'  w.a^  SAa-aaagant  iV\  aer  expeaaiaara,  aisi 
had  ifs'-  iivprios  of  her  aion-ser\suits  envprod 
with  gold  lacc.  The  nine  diffeiaai  ^uiu  a  r 
h^r  tw^o  portrays,  six  valets,  aia:!  a  r-aa''^  cc'-t. 
uaui  ua:  cravats,  lau  Liiuu:5j.raj  six  hundred 
livres       Ha    aible  was  excellent  :   and  the  two 


a  i  ^ » a  •^'  a  a  u   i..  i 


'iawa^^   which 


I  a;  ::>- 


Ksavi  wont    1  sa  a 


r     \  \ 


nary    expenses.      She    had    laiaa  a    ai        a   tv^ 
since  she  came  to  E norland.      Her  succe  -  aiere 

had  li'^lited  up  lira*  visa^^o  wiui  ui^/  aio^t  cliarm 


^  expression,  a 


A^i 


i" 


ai\v 


i » (,  a  I  i    I  *,  i  o  L 


^  Courtin  to  Louvois.      See  copies    of  Louvois'    corres- 
j:>ondence  at  the  Depot  de  la  G'.erre^  tome  dxxxv.  fol.  183. 


■* 


I 


1 86 


LOUISE  DE   KEROUALLE. 


COURTIN. 


187 


to  the  right  extent.  The  table  that  she  kept 
was  excellent,  and  in  short  her  housekeeping 
expenses  alone  far  exceeded  the  two  thousand 
crowns  that  her  husband  allowed  her.  If  she 
fed  according  to  the  appetite^  which  God  had 
given  her,  said  L  .nui,  she  would  eat  twice 
as  much  as  her  annuity  could  buy  for  her.  If 
her  husband  knew  how  good  her  health  and 
appetite  were,  he  would  surely  feel  the  cruelty  of 
not  augmenting  her  pension.  It  was  a  puzzle 
to  Courtin  to  think  how  she  could  pay  her  way 
if  Charles  did  not  serve  as  her  banker.  She 
was  as  intimate  with  him  as  he  could  wish  a 
woiiki  1  of  her  beauty  to  be.  The  friendly 
neutrality  of  Charles  being  of  the  utmost  con- 
sequence to  France,  Courtin  was  unable  to 
think  why  it  was  that  this  mistress  was  neglec- 
ted by  his  Court  -  She  had  been  with  the  King 
of  England  on  the  fourth  of  March  from  three 
to  seven  in  the  evening,  in  one  of  the  reserved 
rooms  next  to  his  suite,  into  which  Charles  and 
C  lifhnch  were  the  only  men  who  entered. 
T!^^y  each  had  a  master  key  which  fitted  all 
the  locks  to  this  Cytherean  temple. 


>"> 


^  Courtin  to  Louvois,  fol.  256,  Jan.  21,  1677. 
^  Courtin  to  Pomponne,  Marcli  25,  1677. 


As  Charles  liked  a  gay  quiet  life,  and  showed 
that  domestic  storms  did  not  suit  his  epicurean 
temper,  the  rivals  ended  by  forming  an  har- 
monious group  around  him.  Louise  pushed 
the  spirit  of  conciliation  so  far  as  to  ask  the 
Duchess  -^iazarin  to  dinner^  and  then  took  her 
to  the  Mall  in  her  coach,  to  the  astonishment  of 
all  the  fine  folk^  kjI  London,  who  were  not  less 
wonderstruck  when  I  i  U  Harvey  appeared  in 
the  same  company. 

In  a  degree,  this  general  peace  in  the  sera- 
glio was  due  to  Courtin.  War  between  the 
Palace  and  the  Parliament  had  waxed  so  hot, 
that  the  union  of  all  the  ladies  was  deemed 
necessary  to  keep  the  indoleiii  monarch  in  a 
combative  mood.  When  the  Commons  assem- 
bled,^ on  February  25th,  it  began  by  informing 
the  Kinor  that  it  would  vote  all  the  funds  he 
wanted,  if  he  lost  no  time  in  declarincr  war  on 
France. 

**  They  will  vote  anything  against  us  in  the 
House  of  Commons,"  wrote  Courtin  ;  '*  and  they 
say,  that  they  are  ready  to  sell  tlieir  shirts  off 

'  Courtin  to  Louvois,  March  25,  1677.      Dossiers  de  la 
Guerre^  tome  dxxxvi.,  fol.  617. 
2  See  Mignei's  Negodations,  t.  iv.,  p.  431. 


1  ■ 

i 


i88 


LOUISE  DE   KEROUALLE. 


\.:  J'W        UiAL  iv  '-' 


i   ' ,  - .  1 


i  hesc 


\  i  I 


1   s  •  ,     ,  >'       I       ■ 


i   ) 


i.  1  ;  i  1 1 1  1  i  ^ ....  ,  I  t 


ik-    use    of:^    The    nui 

i;:i-L    i;:.    i-    loud    and    w^i 


ti  i 


J'  ■ .  i 


ah 


to  me,  ii:  i .: 


.i  1  ■•- 


\\ 


f    < 


SPPTllN 


Cliarlp^  an-i    i.oi:i-   rT'lif"'""!   to   tlip   Coinmni 


IS 


L'tlCii      ili      liii>      oW'ii       lilUIlIIei*        L  iKiriiJ::^,      n\'      UTO- 


i 


1  i1  T  '     ! 


tiijii  \\\iN  lri»;;i    A 


i  i   i,  .M  i  i  j    I 

^f ':->S['J^l^> 


2  4      tM 

;\    26. 


A 


1  1 1 


.t  i 


t  >  - 
1 1 


ruWiT' 


llLiil   '  tjT' jU -•>.   Ul-;!'**    W'ah   il    iill' 


J  t 


1  •^^.,u"u^.lllL)il  tu  liK:  I  ua  ot  iJcC'-inln-r. 

J  0  Li  i  !5   i)        a  I  i  .^  \  V  C  I  \  %  cL  5         a         S  Li  v.i  La  L'  I  i         ■:  i  L  1 1 1 L  iv  i_*  I  i 

\'aiurici'"nnr^:  and  M,  Lnax-^^^s  wi-f't"  a  boast- 
iii:  aat'.T  t^  I^uiIv-Uji].  tor  liic  LcacUi  ol  inc 
English.  dt:^crn)in^^;"  tia-  carnpa'^a  of  1677: 
the  victur\"  ot  aLaa.  l/a---^.!:i^  aad  tli''  si-^-c-. 
ut  ^t.  (.inier  aad  L\uaiK-a\\  '^  Malv  ha^ii-  in 
cpinaufa'  wiiat  x^va  caa."  said  Idtuaani 
'•  ajf  il  will  ba  aaa^'^-a  -ia  ^^}X  li- 
baa^iviad,  unless  Iil'  idajoscs  to 
not  Is.)  entf:r  aiuj  Ua/  it*ajui-  a'Siia^i  a- 

Loais    did    niako    ha-aa    aa-1    no-I-rtcd     no 


i  '^     i.      ! 


a"* '    !  a  f 


^   lloiisett,  t.  ii.,  p.  309. 


1 


COURTIX. 


189 


mean-^   - 

member- 


securinof  the  silence  of  the   leading; 


>i  i> 


<  a  ioreio^i 


debaa  s 
resorted 


ua.'   1  ioase  01    «^ura; 
a      a-       Bribes  wero  aa  li^ 
to.       The  shnrt  session  01    i  -'  sai  aa 
{d.,950,  and  that  of  June  /'550  only. 
dr^w  at"  taa  Frencli  l-aaaas^\'   /'..a-, 5:' 
Mnrch  1st  and  September  6th,  1677:  aad   dKai 


betwet/n 


siornofi 


a  treatv  m  waica 


ena"aa^-a   tn   r.-mam 


subvention  of 
.ouis    on    the 

d  ua  Charles's 
!  mother  laid 
:^r  o\    u range, 

asacted    Liiese 


neutral  ai  return  for  an  arai  i 
^80,000.  II  *  congrataLiN'd 
severe  chastisement  he  had  iiu ur 
00  a  nephew,  whose  father  i 
sheltered  hau  in  exile,  Ua  idi 
before  Charleroy.^ 

h  was  not  Courtin  wir*  t 
money  affairs,  but  Barrillon,  who  came  to  Lon- 
don at  the  beginning  of  Miv,  1677.  l.nuis 
saw  the  necessity  of  laiving  an  anscrupulous 
ambassador  in  EnHand,  and  took  Courtin  at 
Ills  word,  wh.a  he  complained  ul  suffering  from 
the  heavy  air  of  London,  and  of  ta^  injury  to 
ia:>  affairs  which  a  i  ruiuno-ed  soiraai  at  such 
an  expensive  Court  as  that  of  W  hitehali  oc- 
casioned. He  to\a  k  lie  Irktvcv.!,  la^  hfe  to 
advice   eiven   lam  bv  Charles,  to  wc.a    ander- 

*  Dossiers  de  la  Guerre^  tome  dxxxvii. 


%\ 


I! 


190 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


COURT  IN. 


191 


I    i  i 


t     t"  -  •  t  f  •  r*  r 


adie> 


in 


T 


l'uin:.un:^ 


NJiirt-  of  flannel,  "a  plain  sort  of  woollen  stuff 
wuvt  ::  ill  i:  r  Collages  of  Wales.  They  could/' 
the  kin^:  told  me,  "be  washed  jUbL  a^  linr^n 
sliii  li',  ciiid  nothing  could  be  more  warm,  com- 
f  >rt:i"!  '",  f^r  liygienic."  V^\\\  when  T  ;  rtni  found 
tin.t  {inrrni-jr*  war,  cunn:;.,.^  lu  supersede  him,  he 

compla  :;l-,  and  tried  to  ^]if)v,- 
i  !.''■  an  I'* '^'UOlc  :3ucini\  wi  tlie 
„-nd<  'n.  t*  i  i':  ■  j)rofession  ^  >i  iaw 
^  a  pn^t  scnpUiiii  Lo  a  despatch 
he  said :  **  Since  I  had  the 
hnnnnr  to  addr^^^s  tn  \c^^^  the  above,  the  Duchess 
M.iZcuiii  has  been  in  ic  u>  call  on  me,  wiih  the 
1 )  iches<  (n  Cleveland's  eldest  daughter,  her 
most  in  11  mate  friend,  who  is  as  fond  as  she  is 
of  amusing  herself  with  dogs  and  white  spar- 
rows. The  former  lady  begged  me  to  offer 
you  a  thousand  compliments  in  her  name. 
The  Duchess  01  1  ri  niuuth  has  returned  from 
L akh  in  waters  in  sounder  health.  She  is 
now  in  '^^ond  case.  Her  skin  has  o^rown  arain 
so  iio  a  k  Iresh  thai  i  cannot  imao^ine  how 
Kn^:;  Ciia--k'-  palled  as  he  ^s  with  beauty,  will 
be  long  n.  i.cr  company  wainw.  L  becoming  once 

1  Courtin  to  Pomponne,  tome  cxx.,  fol.  271,  autograph 
fost  scriptiim. 


more  her  slave.  She  has  often  with  her 
Catherine  Stuart,  sister  of  the  Duchess  of 
Richmond,  who  married  Lord  Ibrickan,  and  is 
one  of  the  most  pleasaiii  women  iiere.^  Her 
husband  sticks  to  her  like  her  shadow,  and  is 
ready  to  shoot  or  stab  any  one  \vho  lof>ks  at 
her.  He  once  tried  to  kill  her  in  a  ht  of 
jealousy.  I  have  never  been  in  a  cnuntr}/  in 
which  women  are  so  prone  to  backbite  each 
other  as  in  England." 

At  each  prorogation  Courtin  vainly  tried  to 
show  what  an  advantage  he  had  obtained.^ 
He  at  lenorth  came  Lu  understand  that,  althouo^h 
he  had  not  displeased  Louis,  he  must  retire 
before  Barrillon.  Ere  he  quitted  London  he 
presented  his  successor  to  the  Duchess  of 
Portsmouth,^  and  reminded  the  King  of  France 
of  her  oft-expressed  wish  that  he  should  grant 
an  abbey  to  her  aunt,  Madame  de  Tymeur.^ 
If  Louis  granted  this  favour,  he  might  greatly 

1  Lord  Ibrickan's  family  name  was  O'Brien.  Catherine 
Stuart  after  his  death  married  Joseph  WiUiamson,  his  Secre- 
tary. 

2  Dossiers  de  la  Guerre^  tome  dxxxviii. 

3  Courtin  to  Pomponne,  Sept.  9,  1677. 
*  Ibid.^  tome  cxxiii.,  fol.  164. 


192 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


fnA-nii:it':     n  Lrnnr>n*s    mission.      Ther-'^    w:i-    no- 


see  t!v 


11        1     • 


{ 


'  U  I   I   I  i  i 


i^  I    r^  M  i  i  \' 


.f '  i 


i  .   ;  -^  i  '    )  i     ;,  :.  ,   i    t  ' 


1. 


ond..)!i.        'I'll'/    \^  K\^- •  :.\\i  j^    x^'-ar    hi-; 


1  O"  1  1 


1  n 


s\  •  - . !  i .  I 


!  1 


nl 


'    L  ^    1 1  Kl  1  1  i  t .;  -  i 


Wit  la 


a*nvrv   a 


\ 


\nraian    *  •! 


1  » w 


b;!-!,^^ 


nanicJ    Roc-u. 


>  ■-,. 


i  ,K  i  I    a ' 
1 


'  1 


lonou-^,,  ana    (a.^:\'?;r  ; 
hi'n.^cli     IJc    \  araa  ••■vall'^. 
^ad'»r  t=)  \"'-aice.        iha-,  ia 

wno    ucCciaaj    lac    \\a>'''^   ** 
.  a  - ' "'  *^   ^  f . »    \  a^ .  t  •  f-  ■ . ,  r*    , '  f    * '  1 .  ■ 
-, .^a    ,.  .'    ^  f ,...  a  a    a  .    \ 


\\  Lir?     \"Lia'    1'  1 
.- .  .  ,  4 ' 


I  ■>  1 , 


i  i- 


a  a^  »raa,*' 


aall 

•  is- 


V I  a  ■. 


X  I 


k-\-ai    C 


t;a-    I'r 


•  - 1    'it 


I ) 


I     '  '  i       i   i.  I  i  .  :■■! , 


1 


taa  c-t'-aii  <  u    1 


V  ii.  if-^        L  '  •" :  rt  ai     '  -a  5n\-na 

a^  tM  r!a'  r-iti  kj\   ia:.  !ae.      He 


.Li'     i  i 


t  w  ' ,  'r^    1    ii-f  ••  ■  L' 


n  ."I 


S     K  '  '  M  !  )  f 


la     aa 


and 


a ' )  a  "* 


ai^ija:-: 

til.     *  >     i.  4.     , 


■  !  T  !  r  ,  • 


"' ') 


1  U>' 


H    addressed    to    lasa 
iruin     tabile.       NevcrahaK 

aa    :     ^^ouncillor  o!'  S:ate. 


b 


ab>     ac 


1 


i     » 


f  r 


BARRILLON, 


Paul    BARkiLLua    d'Amoncourt,^   Mara 


L>rang-es,    laa! 


r> 


much   cle\* 


a.  laniaa 


it'.        i.  ^  I  .^ 


■AWXi    lA: 


h  ^ 


:3luad,    bcbiUCr-v     \\ 


i  1  1  ',.  i     .  tb        !  U  lit  i 

il 


I  ij    '..aaa  u  J  \'    aa  u  a  a'  ; 


.  t  i   i  '<■-  i 


wa:-    la. 


oj  aaiaij    ai^  contaai-:   l^a'  tia"^^a  wiaan  a(.'  cor- 


rupted.      1 


t'      iv «  ■ 


)   i(n\-aras  them   a  laa'   and 


S:l 


;   -  1      ,       t 
i,  i  i 


:  aire,  ana  iiriiai^iu  aL>vjat  tapir  laiai  w  iai- 


out    aa\     cuaaiunctioia.        lia 
a inbns^nrfnrN   ^a      i'aajis    M     n^'^ 


■  r-.  t :  i  I  i 


1  I         ^ 


Dio*_atb    ua    laij    i>_aliiuaL 


'atf  la-i  in   ilie  democracx    i  f 


c«)a:a 'H'aa. )rb,   a\v 


'.-,  t 


JLl 


iveao^ue,  sa  a 


LU'^ir  heads  faH    wiih^ait  a  shudder;   and  wia,  a 

^  Barrillon  was  of  a  legal  family.  Ihs  father  was  the 
famous  PresidciU  13arrillon  who  died  a  prisoner  at  I'lgiicrol 
in  i^4a  One  of  his  brothers  was  Bishop  of  Liigon ;  the 
other,  Barrillon  de    Morangis,    \. ,  Councillor  of  r  :   a^. 

The  private  papers  of  Barrillon  are  still  in  the  hands  of  his 
direct  descendants. 


193 


T94 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


the  i^a'!!..:   u.i-   i^>>t,   Y^'  ,'..ired  coolly  for  a  new 

on^-       CN-n'-,il    wlv-i  :]:■  'A'a^   rcrruiiirij    ir:ii^nr^. 

t  •  It'  •      1 

rH)iit-ne:-^--,    an^l    w.i-    dr\-   an^l    iivliff/T'-^nt  wli»^n 
Ha  raaiain^d  iiaa,^:ity  aivi  aaaa'\-:-.a  ai  la 

-^•,ii.!t''        !'\         -^i":':,      '1         '^'-,         'li*  \*-"i  --.         <       '   -a         I  '  1 


til'      i  I         U  <     .  L  i  i  1    ■% 


1 


S  a  1  Tv      ^  U        i  i  i  1 '  j  >  I  i  L  >        i  -  1        V  ■   1  :  ;  ■     i  I 

l.ond' ua       I  la^  judornents 

t'ani  S'  )rariL':->  ar-  •  a'  n  .." 
rather     caanau^:-:    i 
l)atravs  his   tra'"   a-^ 
tliair     ini:->fortaiia-,. 


English    can- 


r  \\  ■ 


i>* 


^  M  a.  (  a 


•n 


i\\\  \ 


J    *    4   ^~    i    ,t    »    i    ■        i      ■ 


X  a  vt.a,ahr  !'■■-,-..    h*. 


)haisant  cnnipai 


1 


la* 


ac\a;r  sUrre^i,  \vav;a    a' 


\   •.     1.   t.       >  ill  t       V  I 


a 


I    Mr' 


rhinKV.-\'    earner    of    Maaanv'-    de    ><'\'i-n 


\\'  n  (  )T-ii      f^  f  '     W,  1"-'     b 

1  '   ■  1 


Tp.. 


!  -^*!      vv    li' 


1  i 


u  attached  liaii   \v 


\-, ) M  ])•  'M ( . »-  t  n;ai 


t(' 
-a a!    in  her, 
do,  |.  )\''"  \'nn 


a,iw   an   t 


1 


I  ' ',  _  ,  t  u  I  .  ' 


tar  ten  waia         t  l 
lor  La   h  •  'aauiie,   aa 

fur    lla 

addre^^ed    to    iaai    -ome    caaraaa 

occahaaa    ol 
Ian 'da  ad. 


)    1.1   r>ti'oi]^    cuajciajil 


ri 


•v=iui-:a^   n;':i;ng 

■S.  dhi:!!      |.H-t 


--W    vt-r 


T 


1  j .  I  .  I 


!  >  ■  :  ~;  -.  i 


Tdajre    n\:\e,a"    was    sat 


li 


sciioui    a^    lia,:    oat: 

Lionra.-.      Tri';a'  an  nils  w^to  ^^M^ 


o  - .  I  L 

a  o. 


aic 


•i-ntlv   a 


' 


BARRILLON. 


'95 


^)as   a:>r  each   to  specialize  his  talents,  and  to  be 

d!sa.i^:u  iorward  as  soon  as  iu,:  wsi;-,  aatatcd. 
J  has,  nccord'ncf  to  das  requirements  of  tlie 
^^s)ar,  v.^^aaaa  do  losMssa,  ihe  austere  Ruvic^nv, 
^a^l  tin.'  honnuraai^-  ond  polished  Courtin  o »  re 
sent  to  L..uidoiL  Wdioa  thev  had  ad.,.:]i  ,d! 
sormdings,  and  given  ididdal  pictures  i^i  uie 
.  men  and,  wsaiicii  who 
and  ai  da^    i  louse  ^f  d 


!..! 


.  r 


V V  O  i  I       \^'- 


i!'- 


I  at/a ! 


airrillon     beean 


*  1 


j,  >.  1 1  \ 


laio-n    possession 


e  at  Cona1 
ar  <  saa    die  unscrupu- 

t-^    ^  ator    into     clnse 
dcaoi-,   and    to  bribe 

a     check.      He    had 
of  the    French   em- 


\  iiOil      ti 


i-     i    i  1  i  \_.  v.,        \^« 


e 


A   d)raii^e  ar 


(.1 


m 


.  ^  .'  i  i  1.,  i  ■.   •  i  !  . 


William  of  Xab^aa,  da.-    iio.jaew  of 


a^Q 


ai 


rdhoii  (.a    tifair\-  V\.  and  Adiaasd 


no  great-gran 

Coa-a\r  aw^.   the  bittra^  laasru   >  s'    lojuio   X  1  \'. 

Hi->  iiio  pa,-'^fa.  ai  a  aa/rtai  -iraiJfcrle  ao-aia-a  ta.d 
k  o  V'  5'       \  \  o  a  i ' 


\  i\-    r. 


i  i  (  ^  ^ 


'ecause 


d 


wiai 

xra. 

'  ,^  ~  e 

4 

i 

lUd 

1  1 V 

.  i.  1  i 

f  -i;     ; 

'V  ^  d 

■  ^ 

t 

.W    jV   *    '^ 

Hi 

he 


-  '1 


aaii  ■adrs  nS'i'  (ji:ii 'at 


)  >■ 


ai. 


ai  oat 


>r}p  into  a 


coalition  again^^i  h  r.uiv   ,  o\    bria^aig  out  great 


196 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


gcnr-'als.  In 


') 


i  i  i,   .    iv.   1 


•     t' •-'      I  *(  inn    an-  1      1  '  X-  .^P^t:;  pt  --, 

and  i)\"  uri\!n^  a^ain^t  i'ranct'  all  the  niiiiiarx' 
and  nv-ral  torccr.  uf  the  (d\'ili/('d  world.  He 
had  taken  the  Niidtieii  rexmitien  to  u'o  to  haij- 
land,  ana  inaKe  a  i 
Charles  iro:n  the  h>en(di  ruliance.  \)\  a:>kin  •  the 
Pruicr"--  Marw  dau^lu^T  ot  Vvv  1  )uiv*-  of  \d)rlv 
and  ia'f-u;n' ei\'e  la-n'r^:-.  to  i;;--  throne,  in  mar- 
ria^'e  \  \\v.  hni^h  di  p<-'-ek-  w<-r«'  \r\\  witii  io\-, 
wlien  tia-}'  lrarnt;d  ot  tia^  pr'>eo<'-d  uinon  ht-- 
tween    tin'    ciiann*;'*;]    (^i    ne/    l\.(  iorniati*  mi    and 

thf^dr  r*o-;^iblo  SO\*( -frien,       I^'e!;!-;-^   Wf-ft:  \\  dlt*.-d 


^''      '^'^d     nvil-/^    ',     d(;.q,(-rat('    ehoia,     to    detacil 

1 


ill      li  .>  ■ 
f 


1  1  i  ■■    '    -  L  M  ..  i  1   I  '■    ■'  I-  '■ 


\  dlaircN, 

o 


aMp-n    in-'    newr. 


A'-itiifT  v^aair:'--^  no;-  ni-;  er<  ae-a  >  lara'ii 


to   :>iru^: 


:  I  i  i  L-i  L  i  '.-. 


rn  I      !-,  . 


I     reii^iUU:^ 


!  ni  t  >!  i  i 


■  •*     I.   I    ">         >    V.   i   V.    I 


L  i  i 


niarnaore 


i  1 1 .. 


■  ') 


\viH  Mf  n.it;'  Ma  1  ia 
■la;  vi  ep'  »:a  1  >ar!  a. 
tnat  'M;!M-eLMen  w..->  aseiess,  a>'e-d 
wia/tiaM'  a  woe;:;  n^a  at-  M'^'-^n  p'M;e\-  fti  a<"i'f':'t 
tile  inevita-  !-:  widi  a  TOod  er.M/-''.  and  rfMni.a- 
meat    th"    I'laace    ol    Oram'-e   oa    tja-    Ha(a:*-:>s    of 


lee.av'- 


\  I  * 


ni^ 


V     <  .    i  111'-       ',       i^ 


r> 


>. .  e      o  '  5  •  i  1 1  -1   '   i      I  i  i  • ., 


^aeM-n  r,r-  t"!ip  "piiirlv''-^  <")!   ! 'i  M't^moa t la  wla^'re  he 
Wei:.  Il'  be  ioaiuM  every  day. 


T;a    r^achess  -f  Portsmouth  felt,  a  all  P 
^  Barrillon  to  Pomponne,  Nov.  i,  I'o-j-j. 


•1 


BARRILLON, 


197 


biicii  a  Inaii  ^ual   strora^   wave   ot 


»  ;  ■{ 


)  il  I ,'  1 1  V     1 1 1  \  ».)!  1 1 


as  to  reiiaer  qaite  xaiw  anv  (.anH»nain  nIk' 
^^^^"^'^  ^'ive  to  thct  match.  S!aM  a|)| n.-ared  at  the 
ie^tivitii'S  piven  in  ]a:)noar  of  tla-  Prima'  and 
idanctaa,.      Pat  tlie\-  had  hardhr  Maih-d  tdr    !  Pd- 


iam 


"f )  n  r  e  e 


am    sne    f 


.!     ) 


a.   a 


i>a!  rueei 


I    dana'-zrijash' 
".  a  ad.    crave 
ret^ma       h  or    - 


am-      /  - e     "* 
111.       aaaiics 

an ;  le  MKMm 


lO 


\ 


wa^  confinr^d   to   la^'i*  1 


idness   dP^ 

.     t  e  ,. 
it    > '  I     a i e 


v_. 


i    I 


■  •  o 
\   1  1 


!   ) 
I  *•      i 


Uadanie    de  Scviene  > 


laroLMa    iHe    :itale:aneii    at     v 

prudes    there    <nd!hp^.      aaidame    d*-   Scader\~  ' 

m  I'^aailin^  da 

to    Pussy    do    a 

cotisin.,  toid  la-a  -aia  l\sM-'ja..dlt:  had.  ci"ecifi\  in 
hand,  been  preachinp  ia  ia  r  a  al  lu  lii  K  ia>-  of 
i-oV-pann.  lo  a )['■.. ik-  his  an-p-esses  and  lead  a 
vaaaoi-.  life.  She  am-  at  the  last  e.\ai-eeat\', 
when  .1  ^aia^u  change  for  the  b;-ttor  {.,.A:  place, 

«ns    Ipio     ri^jrr^oh    vP 


oiul    she   got 
diao^ored  herse! 


\   ■•    ! 


1',  C  T  T  • 


.^:-ii...  V, 


I  O       i  )  (  ' 


mu 


^  Barrillon  to  Pomponne,  Dec.  ip   1677. 

2  JM.f  Dec.  1  w  my 7. 

'^  She  took  to  her  bed  before  Dec.  i  p,  1677,  ^^^^^  was  still 
confined  to  it  on  Jan.  20,  1678. 

•^  Letter  to  Bussy  Rabutin,  May  27,  1678,  t.  iv.,  p.  i  rp 
It  took  a  long  time  in  those  divs  for  news  to  travel. 


J  98 


LOUISE   DE  KEROUALLE. 


rieu  to  th 


tiif 


1  i  •  I 


1 


v.a-     In      1 


Y\m\   i'!a\-*T-.  l]:id    cnin^'   to    L^Malnii    for   a 


tmv:. 

1   1 


'  1  t  t ,  •  n  .  ' 


1  ! 

I      L  i  r 


.  I  "^        V.    1  ' 


a  ^    it* 


i  aiviie^s 


a/,  a: 


i H  f a'./a  K._.i/i:-  ■  L',) 


IC' 


ra^a,':-^"  n    sjia-^u. !', 


>]ie 


1  ■  1 

!nn  rr     -\v  a  ' 


asseri 


!   1  »,      I 


\  ^     '  _   1 


aiK 


iiar   a 


kna^v  '^Iv  ^^aa^    r^-auaa 


itinn  tn    iiuki  laT  n^-n  ricrainst  ail 
those    wia)    \\-a::i  -a    t"    i  J.a    lai"    place.       She 

I  as  a  cast  off  an^''   iliat 
a:ua,J:t- a-  ^ .{    la.     S'-'U;'o   head    a!iy- 
hihot,   a:ia    a;.  =  •   -ah^''-,    wanted   t> . 
:Teed   her.      T.a^tha  she   had   to   dclcjiid  cUid 
hel[i  ]i   r  ljrother-in-la\v,  Lord    Pianbroke,  who, 


A    T    • 


:^  r  ra: 
siaaaa     M. 


liiose  oro^ies 


a  \'nnnQ-  Eno- 


i  ■       i 

J 1  >  I 


!\ikes  of  high  i"  aa'  ahinored  so 
in  the  reign  mI  Charles,  had  knicii  a  watch- 
m.ii].  1  a  k.ul  v,a  ^  tried  by  his  p^ars,  and 
nnh-  f^nmd  guilty  of  ^^^anslaughter  to  absolve 
h-;::  "'  ^  the  penak)  of  which,  the  exercise 
of  tla  king's  prerogative  of  merc\  was  re- 
qaired.^ 

^  Barrillon  to  Pomponne,  Jan.  20,  1678. 
2  /If id.,  Jan.  13,  1678. 


. 


> 


» 


BARRILLON. 


IC9 


I  iic  struggle   between    the   i\\ 


H '  i  w  ?  1 1  ?  *  a '  s  N  s  a  a  r  ■  a 


1; 


s  ■•  a  Q     o  J      { 


jrace  at  ahiaa   lia^-^  tina 


■  1 


\' 


-.     1 

L.  1 


,11  ■  i  >,_ 


1  ..•It  •;  ■ 


ii'Crnr\a 


and  h(a- 


a  L        \  \ 


111  V   \\..'  ■■.:, 


c^ii i^ati i   ( a  all 


1  • 
anil' 


lierseli    -hunned,   she 


rclLirilC'^i    I'j    LuliLiOIl    LilRiar    ta*;    !,a"'alaXL  ul 


i.  ^       i    •         L  V  '         L  1  i  v„. 


llL;i" 


a::3b  u: 


s 


Duchess  ^kizarin,  anci  t     kreak  tha 


t  >  *  1  t  "^  "^ 


rMicrao[-cra,'aii 


icr   s^Mi.    tr 


L.'- 


Grafton,  had  entered  wiik  Arlinorton's  daui'liti  r. ^ 
Bat  the  laiUTs  addressed  t(>  hr^r  !•'■.■  ka-  C1ie- 
valier  de  Chastillon,  the  lover  whuiii  aiie  had 
left  behind  her  ki  quitting  France,  were  inter- 
cepted ill  kiaui^e  and  showii  10  Charles,  who, 
wishing  to  get  rid  of  li^r  took  them  in  bad  iKnta 
Chastillon  was  a  captain  in  the  iJuc  dUi leans' 
guard,  penniless,  without  sense  or  wit,  and 
|)rofessionally  handsome.  Ma  kvcd  on  ia^ 
good  looks,^  nearly  every  night  got  implicated 
in  some  low  brawl,  and  iiad  a  mania  ^  for  in- 

1  Barrillon  to  Pomponne,  Nov.  22,  1677. 

2  Scudery  to  Bussy,  July  14,  1678. 

s  Saint-SiiMon.  *  De  SevignI 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


:liik''i 


ih-irit'ircd    [)racti':,ii 


Tl 


^r>■ 


lier   son  voiii    hur,  arv 
1'' ranee/  wlierr  Ciiarif 


a-    \vA  aiioWOvl  lO  iia\'C 
lad    tr)   ha-t 


\'\  ,  •     t  f  •  ■  j  r' ' 


t  i\ 


1  V,.       I,  i  ! 


tur   \'?:n./taince,' 


nio\"cnif'nts. 


!  ^1  r"'f 


r\(\- 


A 


U) 


tnc   1  Hicni'^-^    .\ia/ann,  :-ra:'    naO 


)X\  n^T 


S  f"  ^  I    i 


■r<.a 


i,  since   tn 


t'j    Dfj   as   uaa 

1    i    i  ■     ..'    i.   I     C   i    *  i     ,     ;     i    V    I    ,  .      : 

kaij'cr  ^l:inaia^■d  i)\' 
tia,:  tnrnvjf  i.)aciu::-.:i 
I  ait   rai^    took   carr-    t; 


a-    tiv    D 


o 


il'-sq    ca     Pnia^-- 


:->      i  V  i 


.iv^;  peace  wua    Luiii:^^, 


I         t-.,  f  '  (  ■  M       s 


-^^^  fn  .^n    f^,.  1:; 


icmo" 


tiii    ciiOiii-uiL'^   tu   lac   raiiiv   ui   ii.i\'ULuaLc  a^  a   ex- 
(aatiiv^    ia:r  own  bosoni   friend,    the    M  a([uise 


de     Cnnr^ 

1  la-i    a  r<.-i 


CCii': 

ta-a- 

r.ai 

li.--a 


a     //-^^     hiOura--     la:     1  .eaoncourt. 
lai)    w  i<.    in    a  r   hlteenth   year, 


.a       '^ ! 


S  i 


rceived,  almost  aamediately  after 

ta  a    knuvois  was  ia f  lover,  and 


risks  t<)  obtai 


11   ill' 


ngs  wuii 


i  a* 


la    a 


*w  \J  i    i    V     \^  lie  ">  "»     i   I  '--_.  i    V. 


locked  ap  k\-  la  a'  -a  a- a  aal 

Uachess 


^liL 


1  1  i  ''_  L  L  i  jk  -^ 


Mazarai   ia   llie  qualky  of   a  prisoner.       Both 
caaa.  -,    escaped.       When    the    Marquis*     was 

r^naar.^;   a\\\i\\  she  aiaaaaw,   t-^   iC-:    ia    waii    the 
^  Earr'llo!!  to  Pomponne.   In    30,  1678. 


{' 


,v 


fr 


BARRILLON. 


201 


i\  i  a  i 


i  1,  u    o  I  ■  a . . 


ncellor 


^      s       J       !     i 


■  f"  \ 


1  n  see  Ia.a~ 


a/T   arc  a w.a 


>  K 


,  >  !  '  a  i  i  ^ 


i^nLiiav    \\ a*^    .!;■>    ]fa.ii'an  a'-    aLa'   ^ 

i,M,it,' .  i  '■  '  li  .  I  i  i.   ,  01 IC        \  i  i  v.K. I..  ,  i        1 1 1  j  i.        Li  1  v^  lit,.  I  i  IS  1  i  V 

i  •>■   -  •■  • 

afnuu  K-A  lo-'ncf  patience!  'I'ia;  [)leasiir'''  of  n'-- 
inaaaaLf  innocAaa  lioe:^  ra,;i  aiaka  ap  lur  uie  -Kan 
^  f  a-  Wi  ;  continaally  browbeaten  and  insuked." 
1 1  >he  kiiew  hu\v  U)  aiaux--^'  la-r  ^entimeais 
witii  \\^\\i  la-ace,  she  \\ai>  also  skilled  in  t!ie 
art  uf  depicting-  her  charms.  "  I  aai  auik  :aie 
wnae  if  iierself,  ''and  my  eyes  are  an)a];a;g 
Lui  saaill.  U  a,  1  never  open  tla-ai  aiaapletely, 
which  gives  them  a  soft  and  tender  expres- 
sain.  I  have  a  beautifully  moulded  bast  (h\aie 
hands,  fairly  good  arms — that  is  to  r  a\ ,  arms 
that  are  rather  thin  ;  but  I  hax*"*  a  compensa- 
tiua  lor  this  misfortune  ni  the  pleasure  I  find 
in  knowing  that  my  legs  are  perfect  and  beat 
those  of  any  other  woman  in  existence." 
^kidame  de  Courcelles  hoped  to  effect  a  con- 
quest of  ("harles  when  she  leii  Du  i'oulay,  to 
iaalvc   her  way  to   England,    which  was  then, 

1  Francois  Bruslard  du  Boulay,  cousin  of  the  Chancellor 
Sillery,  and  younger  brother  of  the  Marquis  de  Broussin. 

2  Marquise  de  Courcelles  :  Mhnoires^  p.  125. 


202 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


n  '    I      ,; :  :.    said,  the    r^  ! 


.t 


1  u :  r 

1      »  1 


Cu!i\-{:lUi;:Ll 


1   '  i   '  .  i  1 
1     i 


Hut 

in     llla^ 

c  a  1 1  u ' 


1  ! 


c. 


a^ 


>      T 


lL)\ai 


^i'Jonie  to   <jn  ba 


-> 

f* 


t'  ^  1-  rancp  and  there  ^h„ 
^*^'—  '■••'''  ^^  }"^''-o  ^-^i'ta::i,  aiiaai  she  married. 
She  I'vcd  miserabh   wi^a  ]:an    a  ^d  soon  died. 

In.L  Ma^Jaaiao  i  dir\--\  an  i  aiuldleton  wore 
in  no  humour  to  ;  u*  aa  vita  id  r>achess  of 
I'uiLsmouth,  and  w^re  indefatigable  in  goading 
on  the  D.ichess  Ma  aia  against  her.  They 
went  so  lar  a-  to  conjure  h^^  to  got  t^^-  Idno" 
'  t-  honaar  Mr,  Middleton's  daughter  waia 
his  attnnn  aisd  din  1  )uchess  of  Portsmouth 
had  caused  access  n  the  king's  cabinet  to  be 
r-fused  to  Airb.  Aiiddleton,  *' who  went  there 
uaiii  Miss  Middleton,  intent  on  ijleasino-  his 
majesty,"  a  design  v  hich.  i'l  the  eyes  of  Louise, 
\.n.-  iiothincr  short  of  criminal.  .Meanwhile 
Duchess  Mazarin  i-  dd  assiduous  court  to 
iJuchess    oi    \    !^a    U)    \  liose    rooms    she 

1  1  -ai::  ai  to  Pomponne,  July  25,  1678. 


fl. 


I 

f 
1 


t 


BARRILLON. 


203 


Went  every    day    n^    play    at    rompino-   games. 
I.ady    Ihde,    the    go- 


\  ta  1 


!-nicess 


t   I  -s 


Anne,^     ^\\--    also    innaait'-    wini 

1  Hichrss.     A  calud  aaanan,.  I.iHii-r  d-  K^  roualle 


was    tlni-    tArn 


ddn:    1  )aix^"  o\    ^d  ^rlc    snoko 


1 ;  I,  \ 


disliked  hen  Sh(^  knew  da-  v;ell.  Notwith- 
standing, she  kept  her  head  so  well  above  water, 
aft^r  t^a^  Orange  marriage,  as  to  be  respect- 
lidii)  used  by  the  whole  Court.  The  king  was 
regular  in  his  visits ;  and  he  spoke  to  her  of 
ta  r\'thing  that  was  on  his  mind,  and  received 
aii  her  insinuations.  The  Lord  Treasurer 
iJanby  made  use  of  her  to  attain  his  ends  ; 
and  she  aided  the  French  Embassy,  by  making 
Charles  think  dial  I  arrillon  was  devoted  to 
him.  Secretly,  she  deplored  the  danger  of  a 
war    b-'twoon     England    and 


a  nice. 


'W, 


hiorhest  courtiers,  Sunderland  amongst  others, 
were  still  her  fast  friends.  Pnt  the  lovely 
Countess  of  Sunderland,  who  had  formerly, 
at  the  mock  marriage  at  Euston,  undressed 
the  insignificant  Breton  gir!  in  the  kings 
chamber,  and  cut  up  his  and  her  garters,  was 
seized    with    the   most    implacable    hatred    for 

'  Barrillon  to  Pomponne. 


204 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


hpf,   and   spoke    oi    \v,x   as    *' that    abominable 

1  !  1  < 

n  '  I  r"  H  1 '     ■ )  r  "i :  i    r    \  >  ■   •  X 


L  n: 


JlJlI 


f  1 


liluence  was  n  ^  the 


Sm;  f 


I     uiese    feuds. 


rtacr. 

O 


Mtji ley   was    a 
1  ii"   Exchequer 


arCii I \,'i,'>  N 


'ry  i  .'._)  \v'     L  i  I^; 


'iiderance  ^f  1  .^  > 


>v...,-^t- 


1  i  i 


s;  I  \-n-j 


\' 


la-' 


•  ill"' 

i    I    ;    " 


set 

naid 


/ 


■u.i 


I  2,000 

I     -      'Hpn   lip   by  supple- 

)'---       lii    th':    \'-^a-    i68l 
Irea;  fmni    tlie   Treasury 


<^l'^v,  a    ai    re\-rrtaui 
''^T.      i  icr    rr-alar 
iJn.,;   a   \'^,:ar.  a  iarli 
merit-,    a )    /\|o.ooo 
iiK...    1  i  '„_  aL.  I    :--iaa, 
,0130,668.        S.i'j     aaJ    a    business     man,    one 
^  "y    -'    -  -     invested  for  her  and  gave  receipts 
ill  .1  aa;ae.      One  ui    ii   •  hang-ers-on,  a  ceriam 
'^^"^^'^-a    i  J    -    trafiicked  lor  her  profit,  in  royal 
paruua^    :a    ar-  1   t  .   ri  a    convicts.      Pnnr  ones 
-    "      ^  '  v^  'I  nidia  planters. 
One  of  tho  treasur)   ra^rks   made  an  entry  in 
two  columns   oa    ihe  same   page  of   the  sums 
P-^   ^  '       -  i  riaia    <  aiweli,  now    Dutchesse    of 
^'^  '-:^'^^itia'    a;i  ;   to  '' Nelly  Gwynn." ^      From 
j  una  3  to  rV:cpmb.'r  30,  1676,  the  Duchess  was 
i-"^^^^^    ''^   ^^^^^    ^^-^"^^  i>^^ilo^  '^-^'    Xell   ^2,862; 

^  John  Yonge  Akermann  :  Money,  received  and  paid  for. 
2  MS.  British  Museum  addal,  28,094,  fol.  54. 


BARRILLON. 


205 


/ 


i  ail  wCbb 


.300.  aia:  (  )\\a  an  only 


,a  ^1^.      i-:i  at 

in  aaau'  otl-i  r  varcclif aa-, 

into  secret  a_.;;3.N  unujra.r 


.~> 


-"■^  i 


r^at-ngr 


A. ,  V  i       \  V    ill 


iKa'   rea'nlar  nraision. 


j!    bai:. 


she  cl 


t'- 1  J  1       ?  ;  !  i      '■■■  ?■       =  '1  !  I  ' 


i  i  K  '  i  /     r^  1  i  <-  !  \  ■ 


if   n^^ ii n ("'''^"  i\ •  a  ] 


"1  raif- 


1  1  1  ,T 

a  a  a  !     >■-;  n ,  -  n  n  y 


\? 


it  ti\\ci\    Willi  iici'   (aai/i'   a 
dcju!-  mO'idaijie.      Tiar-  bill 


a  HKiii 


i  \ 


Q.K)\\\  aaa 


a:    a 


ill-  eiitr:es  : 


"  Madame  Carwell^  now  Dutchess  of  Portsmouth, 


Dr.  t 


U    \s 


\\  cULS 


•  :\  rnnt  of  pigeon-breast  and  silver  brocade ;  breeches  \ 
ii  liiingrave  with  canons.^  A  coat  faced  with  white  tafiety 
ai  a  lined  with  camlet ;  breeches  also  faced  at  pockets  and 
knees  with  tafteta;  breeches  having  ai  a<c  thigh  slashed 
seams,  to  show  red  and  silver  lace,  canons  idem^  idem  with 
deep  frill  of  point  i  i*  c.  A  coat  enriched  with  plain  satin 
and  watered  ribbons  and  r.a  arid  <n\ li  ^  dra  wuh  red,  silver, 
and  point  lace  at  the  cuffs.  A  linen  coi;  ir  embroidered 
\  c!  aith  needle  open-work  ;  silk  pockets  of  chamois  leather 
lur  cuat  and  breeches.  Six  dozen  buttons  of  red  and  silver 
rl-nth  :  eight  ells  of  tafTeta  fur  lining  sleeves  and  breeches. 
A  I  air  of  silk  stockings.  A  belt  and  embroidered  pair  of 
garters.     A  black  beaver  hat  laced  with  red  and  silver." 

^  List  of  assets  furnished  by  the  executors  of  W.  Watts, 
mercer  to  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth. 

2  Gallons  were  the  frills  worn  at  the  knees.  One  still 
sees  them  at  the  Theatre  Francais,  in  Moliere's  Precieuses 
Ridicules  and  other  plays. 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


'    ^^     \rHi    .Kil   had   such  success  on   the 
e     in     '  1  i;jr:;:v  ,"    and     other    mascuHne 


^^r\•^■:■t'"■nt]l   Cf'nti;r\'  were   i'rij'it   'n 


n 


tne 


\\:r\- 


'cru;>:  tiic  ra^e  aiii-M- 


t> 


1  • 

-ir    toe: 


.-,  »    "\  \  "' 

i  I  t        V   V 


*  \ 


-      i^Ji'-y  did  n<<t  \v,.m.  die  |,h-'  icxt  of 
i  •  t)    ;  .  1  liicin   Liicre.      The  honest 

-■^^:-;''^^  "'  -"^^  ■  ..i:;i  Cirw^rii  "  r.vice  for 

the  Sim-  l.^^u•xx  Im;-;   f  n-  h...  rr,|f   -xvA   Inex- 

-!>nice 


i    V 


iiica  iiUi-5L  nave  eclipbcn 


M  ) 


1. '  " 


pres- ;  .  ^, 

elegance  th-  .t:i^c  luuMiiments  of  Nrllv. 

111'-   iiiavy   ;    :i::jions  and  emoluments,  a-    't 
ha^  ^     a  .a    A  a,  were  fa   Louise,  aa  i  the  small 

ones    iviT    At:d.       l^-!uw    diese   caaiaiaT-.    tl^ere 

'^.^^  ^'  'i-n  ijastai-a--,  t  .i^ip:, 
a^ure    in    the    '1  ;    asury 
account  bo^ks.      M;  lia,-,  Chiffinch,  iur  showino- 

an   tlie  back  sta'r;-:   a*   the 

u  iat^hall,   hcia    a 

\  car.      Catherine   ^r  a  . 

V  a  a   aaacenary,  beauty, 

.c   ol    Riciiinuiid,    nut  up 

a        r he  pretty   Bulkely  had 

A    crowd   of  lesser  concubines 

a. -a  sums    a   /  :;o  each. 


i.ivi  a,::-^ 


rn 


ki 


^^o  •"'   ^a)-a^aalujn    ruu:a^   ^ii 


nf     r 


T        -^ 


pension    n 

had  uav;  of  ^'  A500 

lait   It  cannot  be  - 


■^X'l  f-  I  ■ 


a   i 


n  -  .  -  t- 


BARRILLON, 


207 


i  rench  money  ^  th  a  Chnrlf^s  scattered 

=ata    to 


It 


laau 


K  ■  \  « 


XW  \  if 


r  -^  ?  ^ '  t  T 


nl 


^suai's 
ais  wife,  a  seam- 

asinna]    mis^r^^sses 


I  ^-  r 


with  such  a  loose  h  ual  ;  . 

[^i\•  a  -  u  la  liaa  arrant  ^  a  a 
d^  \i  Jvjpment.  The  valet  u 
went  tn  receive  Ua..^  ai-a 
til  liiv:  [-'rench  l-aiaai-N)'  ,  a 
stress  by  trade,  gave  th'-  . 
their  allowances,  la  aa_  cash- box  wcib  opened 
for  many  others.  Ai!  i)arr!llon's  account-books 
have  been  ja-i-Ma-xa^J  aa  the  M;aaa,ry  i.,-  c^oreio^n 
Affairs.  One  l^-araK  \n  thena  at  a-'ac;  priaes 
1-aadish  patriots  si,:ad  t 'aaa-^.a\a-..  .ii;a  aav;va'  tla^- 
stri'-r,  ni'  wij.ii  temptation  aastiaa/  Paritans  be- 
trayed their  pnnvi Pica.  A!...aTa.ai  ha.au'V  is  ^.ail 
in  English  eyes  surrounded  witii  the  nimbu  a 
a  pure-souled  martyr.  li  n^criv^xl  ^500  for 
each  parlianacUar)  session,  Ironi  iha  ^^^^\^^  o\ 
France.^  The  friends  rf  Government  di  1  la  t 
stay  emptv-laiiidcd.  Lord  Berksicro  wa^ 
given  ^1,000,  and  Coleman  £z^o.  He  was 
ah.^')  entrusted    aaiii    f -00  to  law    members  ui' 


^,ot   so.     The   Treasury  clerks   who   paid   Louise   de 


-      w 


^.  0' 


Keroualle  the  vast  sums  already  mentioned,  never  fingered     /^ca^^'^  V  a\i^  ■ 
a  stiver  of  French  money.     {Translato7''s  Note.)  ^ 

2  See  Aff.  Eir.    A?tg/eferre,   tome  c.wx.,   fol.    6S  ;    tome 
cxxxi.,  fol.  146,  for  1678. 


20S 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


T     T 


nnons,   as    his    icv^cipts  a  ■  1 


nv 


{  ) 


f  '■ 


S(^  )i 


iV  i  I 


.■^ 


<ICC'  'fv  1 1 : 1  ^' 
aine  kinc 


:    I 


d    ^200    f^^r    tl^r 


>) 


i'.trrillon   grave    ini. 


J  tiie 


hands  of  different  persons  of  note,  for  the  in- 
forn  .tion  they  communicated  to  him,  one 
liundred  and  eight  pounds  six  and  eightpence. 
He  furdiermore  spent  four  hundred  pounds  in 
obtaining  secret  reports  from  officers  of  the 
army,  treasury  clerks,  and  secretaries  of  state. 

Before  the  year  1678  had  expired,  Barrillon 
found  it  expedient  to  renew  his  largesses.  He 
was  frightened  at  the  drain  on  the  French 
exchequer ;  and  yet  he  did  not  dare,  from  a 
fear  of  compromising  a  long-laid  scheme  of 
policy,  to  put  a  stop  to  it.  No  bribe  was  care- 
lessly given.  Sir  John  Baber^  was  engaged 
by  him  to  sound  Litdeton,  and  bring  him  and 
Poole  into  close  relations  with  the  French 
Embassy.  Poole  was  one  of  the  leaders  of 
the  Puritan  party,  and  distinguished  himself  by 

^  This  Baber  constantly  appears  in  the  secret  service 
accounts  of  Barrillon,  v/ho  attached  great  importance  to  his 
information.  He  was  doubtless  the  person  whose  reserve 
and  reticence  Pepys  eulogizes  in  the  Diary ^  March  14, 
1660. 


X 


'^<^. 


^-r^  ^^^-L'/tr^r 


/ 


/ 


7/^y. 


\i 


BARIULLON. 


209 


iiib     \  n    lence    against    the    honest    Strafford. 
Littleton  received  a  \n'An^^   lirect  from  Darrillon. 


niKj-Si hie  i(">  w i 


uiiiiK^uiL,  lilt:  kitt'n"  repnrt*"d  t^  his 
ii(n"\:rniiiciii,  lu  niui  iwu  iiicn  wliu  iutJ  iiK-r^ 
crrdit   for  natriotssni   an^l   :ii!>t?/rr'   \'irtii'-  in   tlie 

i  Ii)USi.^  Oi    LuaiillOiiS.        1 1  \Vd: 

liold    tr^'iu  Mn:ii:i:_ai  flft 

winch  hi'  cL^k'-u    li)  l)rihe   oDscir-e  countrx'  in*;:!i 
l)er^.  \vho>i:  \--)U--;  wouhi  tc-li  at  a  duhsion. 
This    iiitf r\-('a!!()n    oi    Moataa'u    \\ai:>    an    ;, a'a: 


■  -  *  A       i  t  fc,  i  i.  1  ■-  t  ;    v...  ■■,  4 


roni])hcatHMi    oi    die    tics    winch    boiinJ    Ln 
X  I\',  In  Caiarlcs. 

AhsUaa^a    \ww    lias   l:)rot]ier  n 


i ..bAy  i  iarvev, 


1  ■ 


I  anii.ais'^ador  in  I'  ranc 


( ' 


A    i! 
1  1  i 


•  n-  M  '^cr 


tiic  poanca.!  incsi  rf,4a.iait,.-a  mai  as  a**. 
to  the  rh"fach  narL\',  whrii  he  snikk:ni\-  i\c- 
nouncevi  the  I  reasurer  L)anh»\'  a>  iauan^"  bcei, 
fur  iininv  niontlis  eniauasd  in.  Ntaa-ta'  ia"'caL:^ 
tuan^  watii  rh^-  CiUii't  oi  \  (aoaiaes.  aiai  liiaa  at 
a   lanio    wiaai   liaahicncii    b\-  the   ^tiaaia   ti^.a-    iC 


()i)i:)osu,o  Ci.     h<'    ichkad    in     naeiii 


.'  n 


against  h  raiuo,-.  anu  iaa,aaari-d  naui  nuich  iiicse 
a  treat)  ol  nhiance  h-taw^Mai  Isn^iaiid  and  lia"^ 
A  (.anmaanu-^. 

'Jliu-1.   I.eais,  adandoncii    l.)\-  Ciiaiics.  raid   he- 
tra\a.nl   h\    L)anb\'   dt   die   nioinent   that   iie   was 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


about    t 


( )      t 


wluiL  Dfice.  to  p:iraU'-r    tii';    actp>;i    ^A    \\\\:\.vv\ 


tat^ 


XO: 


,   •  I  I.   \    I  i  I 


Ciicirn'<     t«^    ;uiir)i]-ii     or    nro- 


tM!-iiailU'!U.    I 


r     \'\i'' 


V  M  i  >*Ua^j  u  ti.)  attack 


Dani 'W  whom  iv:  wa^  ai 


.1 ) 


II,' 


'  •rii!  a't.'i! 


.t;  '  aina  •  < 


.,t 


1  i !  L t     L i  l'-  a  1     \ ,  I  ^  i  I    i i ! 
;     \\a,a''.'     ra  a 
aaciiir-t  1'  i\Aricr,    laa    t' 


1    ha- 


lii.it     I  a 


c<  >ai  a  lion 
'     urate 


j;    in- 


raJiicr-   En^lan-i 

tout   Mate.      1a-  lu-,    orders,    la 


*  a  '    a  a  .  I  a  L  a )  a .    a 


an    inipo- 


i^nna,. 


I  !  I 


Parlainvait    W'a' 


(  i        ;  .  r  1  (">  r  ■,  1  5 


jarraiua 


a.L  \v 


ni^  ia.,a :  n  a  Lino 


'.S  , 


atra'a^ 


Cl   _        k„  4.   i    i    . 


->        ■     t  t      '    ■^ 


t.:  \  )n!  !i.,oil 

1     i 


n>ri  n 


(     niriOQ 


.■^    i.  i.      V.  i    v^   L   ■ 


! ranged   by    Montaaia 

I  a  :  -'     O  1 J  L  t 

"a-    Kai.: 

■ToCuULiotl  Ilia  ivu^^j^oii^, 


aosini/ 


n"    I-'- 

■  1     1^1 


ion,as.      at     aJi    auLogrcLpii     U-il-r     u\- 
raiaa  use  o:  lae  kine's  authora\ 


'^1      t.   )     T 


1  r,  :  i'lj-i  v. as  mistaken  in  bis  estimate  of  Holies,  who 
\s  t^  >jcond  son  of  the  Earl  of  Clare,  was  created  Baron 
Pen/i!  in  lOOi,  sent  as  ambassador  to  France  in  1663,  as 
pjc'iiipuLcntiaryto  the  Hague  in  1662,  and  who  died  in  1680, 
before  he  couli  10  : jive  a  splendid  gift  Lous  XIV  intended 
-jnd  ii-f  him. 


BARRILLON, 


211 


and  friendly  feeling  against  the  House  (/i  Com- 
mons, and  of  the    P.a-Hamenr   t-      :  a-ar  effect 


bcincT  eiven  an  rcr^uiiilioii:^   Wianli  (daaa^^s  -ai-ait 
be  broucrlu  t<    *   '  •        1 


n^ 


t  ,,  i  :  \  '        K  O  ■  i- 


I  Kaa.;;'s      trent 
and  b 


V 


w 


raronci  led 


avisions 


Ciaair-s  ana  tiis   i  .oooinoaL  .  lai.  aai 

wore  saffi-ifMit!v  projnncrad    to   oiaihic    Louis  ta 

strike  a  decisi\c  Mow  in  his  Ccuiiiaii^ii  of   [67S. 


;a--  \  1  aided 
ted.      The 

*  -i^a  the 
*a'i,M  laL-a" 
n  -  ^  i'  a;na!i 
in  waiter. 
s    strucTi^Ie 


i  !'■  want  tn  ^^\"ar  ?'o!']\'  in  that  year. 

1  Jtii,  Ghent  fall  iiiaa  !a;;  lama-..      ^ 

a  fan  days  later,  aiai  Mi>;w  \ww  ia\ 

LHitCii   plenipotenuaries    !w  au:a-a 

peace    of    Nimeguen.       w.aa     t 

exaiiiplc  ill  the  nexi   inoiwia    aa! 

I  ainire  gave   la    at    the    beginnin 

renins    issued    triumplaauU'    frc -ai 

anil     coalesced     Europe.       This 

iwaacc     was     An^    to    the    i^aij     i 

1  aigland.       The    English    people    beheld    with 

rage   tho  crippling   of    Protestnnt     il  )lland   by 

'^i   Lai  lolic    power.      They   were    cariacd    away 

a-ainst  tlv-   Catholics  by  one  if  those  frenzies 

ni    c-arai^ious    hatred     which    sonioiiaa  -     tike 

hold    ol    a    'wl-ia    ako    aa    oj wh-aiia.      When  a 

aatnai    i^   ai-):^sessed  bv  a  ai  oi"   -.wrw   I'mw,  tin  re 

d,  always   a   statesm  in 


■  1 


ol 
of 


read\'    t<j    loawka-   to  it. 


y 


212 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


Shaftesbury,  in   this  instance,   came  forward  to 

tiiri-jw'  I'l^-I  ;':;  t;v"  raijincf  fire. 


r 


\>:v,--<  C<v 


\v\^     XOWVA      f 

i     ill    1  liL  I  I  lf_,.  ;  I,  L     . 


li  (M    Shaftesbiir\,   had    in 

-r    Cliirles    I.    aeniii^^    tlie 


tlii'i        i.Ulii*_:LL        iUliiiLl        L'-J 


l  -1       l  : 


i  I 


int.: 


iiaibT; 


1 1  -. , 
1 1 .  t 


[\   *    *   i     !   11    Ui    .   ^,,lj   1 


!  I  !  -^ 


-t:-'  Ml  crest. 
CcK  h!\i'  ::;■,'* 


tiv 


iM' inarch'/    \\\i^    r 
t'liionioiis    nvi..!. 


Muiii^nants ;     an  ■     was    "the 

*■'!     Lin-     n.  .:--\-     ni-'nw         \  v  ri'W 

-l-  n-ed,    in-    c.i-n    .  r:    the  sanc- 

nn^ri'^r^    Ch  n*i'-n     i^i^s- 
1  ' 


1      i 


'         i' 


well,  a^  tyi  b*"^   ^ucccssiv*  i 

to    d* 'S'''r\'!'   Ij' nn  =    cah'  •  i  n\'  ( 


U  .  ' 


I  ■'  \         t 


■1  Q 


r-itnr 


<<  i^. 


\ncujLii)   Luj 


o 


n,     i:,. 

ill         i    -  : 


Ihna-:-:.  >r  Cr-nnwr  h 


>> 


)  ! 


\    daun-];t.;r  ui    liie 
courted,  nhuscd 


to    r 


pietx 


1    t  1 

1  i   i  ' 


Mble    niih'C 


■  i 


unaee,  because  a  i  « n 


(a    a  h,_-ta)j', •  la 


hrwj\'  oi    an  '  il ;  nna 


i  !  ,       \  V    1. 1 


a 


<■> 


I  a   \'nnLri    an: 


1,  V  r'  ■  I  ~i  ;     ' 

*   V      1      i    !,    1    t  \     i    ' 


till  V  I 


1    •         1  1 

ni^  nana> 


>k  irn!ii  pal^\' 


\  \  :  ] '  ai   a   ] 


1  >T   1  tl  !  C  f  f   •  »* 


!  !  !  K     t 


ai     v^iKuaa^.     lie    C'Ctrii/ia     la*/     n^ 


o 


i  a 


anni 


»    I    !     I   V    I 


prenared  to  aven^a-  Idai^'af  ant  <)v\]v  i)'\   I  ):uar 


wnobe   iicad  lin  waiiLn^a,  bui  un 
^v]a:a^l  la-  longed  to  lianhhata. 


-._    i  iU 


;  1  -  !  I T 


r 


BARRILLON. 


213 


biiaftesbury  was  never  so  humble   and   ob- 
sequious as  when  he  was  ai  hiciting  vengeance. 

ivrofo  to  tho  kino^,   that    all   h'-  wanted  wa< 


n'  i\c  at    ilia    leal 


lie  crmorec 


siu    aission 

wan  in  i 

lah.','   w  iiiiesses  x^ 
Ihia^    Oates.       I 


...    *     i.     :-.   t 


1 ,    A' 


rn  (   ;  : 


the   iaiio^lisli 


v..  »  I  I 


tnc  assassmatiun  ic    ^ 


t . 


ni 


testants.      Tho  people,  whn  wn-a  * 
iia  li/iad    anger    at    the    ia 
Louis,  swallowed    O  ilea'   fable 

waat'n  aaa,i  uo  aa"aa  = 


ill. 

i 

V    ;     '■■      ^   •' 

a\- 

\    r  "^            * 

■  ^  J  ;, 

ac 

knowled^: 

'a ' 

lit               ^  I 

r;.i 

-a, 

1 

\'    Ufa; 

1 

■■  .  ..  •>  i 

1 

i 

'. ,  1 1 

^u 

\  'Oiaan 

,  f  ^ 

crew 

of 

■  r 

1  »  I.  >  i  ■>     i   ■ 

i        t 
1        I  ■■ 

'h' 

aher 

by 

aa'    an 

ni  >a 

t    i    v. 

'/a    u 

i  i  i,  w 

a  1 

*> 

pint 

f^w 

vil 

ig  an  ; 

1      T 

a  a 

t 

I. 

;                     t    f 

a  5. :     i 

;r )- 

hn 

WfMT' 

• 

1  11 

\  1  i 

~\ 

^tate 

of 

I  ai  ai:^Lur\" 

'  1 1  t.  i  .  i  ;     >        L  !  1  •■     ;.  1         1  d i/  V,     ,        .  I 


pecti-d   of  svni{  Maiaziiig  a  aai  iJ- 


lii  i>_^-i         tO 


credulity 

V  wanted 

body  sus- 

-I--,  wa.^  in 


W  _ 


1  ■> 
.   i 


\    i  V   I  i  ;  i  i 


<a    "^tate,    vc\h''M'    ria;!aai-n    Ira  a  re 


a  a    accounts. 


.  Uir    w  Pi  1 


Ma '     r  r"' '  a r ;'s    :  1 1  ra  ii cr- 

•   1   1 


Ss.KiC)r  wiajaj  CiKjiiy  la   \  la'aaiiic:';  ',  '  k,^ oa^iwdii  a(.4:-> 
scait  na,h\vord  to  b'^  in  no  wis; 


a '   u la risx'.  I )f 'i'a ' ''^-^e 


iiouulU'    caa 
writino:  to  in 


1 1  n  i  I 


n  u,  i 


I  \ 


11  lb     i)aa*a*s    a 


n-;.acL!'  5' 


me. 


^  Affaires  Etrangeres^  ! oiic  rx\C    fol.  53. 


214 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


« ( ■  i  1 


Lul"     LO 


i    1    1    I    i    i        1  I   i    ;.  ^■,.  i 


\\  ^:  iujw  i^ihju    iiiai   Coleman  was   a 

'  1  ,•  T         '      ■  •  ■  1  1  .      - 

liiU:3C        \wJ)     it'iiiiV  i       j;.;ii     .^    ?i:..\       ii^'..  t       li''Llnn     •      l(*     -'K) 

upon,      lie  wa--  char;^?.'d  wiiii  ma  i],i\-in^  >ii(n\n 


iiDrrru'  at  ua 


^^Mi. taa    i< ! 


'api^t    la<  )t.   aa^l  wa:i    iai\-in-  m-- 


;  .■-) 


f   !  :  ( 


ktj!;i )    niniata-^  *  if    ta-.*    \-  : 
1  ^'ai't  I..H-  an-aM,"   ^^ua  lia.'  I.< -ra  (,/ia-t' 
j  uMicr  tC)  iam.     "   i  rua''-   \\a:  hr    no   c«aKlemna- 
ticai   ii    vijiiT   craia-s    arr-    la  a    l)rnaa"ht   la^'iiv'"-    to 


wnaa. 


V    Uli, 


i.clii       k  t '.  '  L      ti 


t  ,  ..w-:  r 


u;l    lijW'aiai:-)    \  uu    ar>    \ou 


».  -1 , 


.'antiai  to  act  towar(.:>  u 
1  a  a-,  UK:  ] 


to  laaraii' 


II  >, 


!  >  r^  »       i 


betva'c  la^  CijunM-i   -a<'ivni    [.a-   craa\-   inx'anted 


\>v  tia,;    Ofi'iarta,!   aii^jrna  r 


It    IS    wr)rth    laaia- 


)('(»; 


i   «     ■    .  <    1    .   •  J    I    i 


\  s  ■  I 


t-f"iQ  r>(  •(  ^  *  t 


I       V     i 


a^i\"    i.)i.j.-?!,a'\'a,a t 


tia.:  ra^aaai  ca    iaa^   aia 

iA    law.    aiaJ    tia.-   most    hcni 

of    leaal    ((.aaim,    aa\"!-     M'^-iao^^u    tiio    -^^raato^^t 

^  ^  t,  b  J      cl  i  i  v  1       111       L  i  i  C  1  1         O  I  c  I  L  ■■  J 

I    ravnlt'na'   exam ; -Irs    (T 


1  . 

1  1 


L  1   i  I  I  I  r^ 


nowai    taa    na 


1*1     1  ■ 

1  :  ^  i  1  O  1  i         i  1  i  O  L 


laraiical    imaait\',       iia:^abn    m-.a  >r\\    tram    i' 
time  oi   tha    i\aaa's  to  tia-  ra'-n  oMjfor'r  111 
io   a    narrati\'a   ut    jLa-;aacii    na,a-a-r:^.       C<iaaaari 
was    acca^ad    e>i    iauaa^    aa;aml    tia.;    l(-:wat^^   iu 
St.  Omer   to  a^-^a^-^iaal^-  tia.'    laaj,  in    rrtara   tur 


tiie  paynajnt   oi    jO^uon   masses.      Ch 


BARRILLON, 


215 


I  iait  lie  laai  a'.aa'..'Li  ol  au:^  ijcU'^aai  «.il  ot. 
c  )^a.a^  aaa  tia.-  iau^a  Cliier  ja-tica.:'  piaimoi-]  him 
tV)r  his  t.:n:a'aL'a  ia  \'y'<'\\y.l  t:vJdanca  ts)  ua:^  cllast. 
i-{(^   al:-^<*   -wore    ilaii    Coiemaa   wa~^   to   a..u'   tho 

-*  '^    ^    ^  '    V  \ 

ins.li      /^  200.000     to     raa-     m     o.-i -^ii:^  mO         i  aa 

jir  wo'^rii   seal  Si 
for  /  2 CO  '       1 


11  11 


..i    laam 


li)    oarr 


1 )  ^.  a  ^  1  ■ 


)iiaa,    ]>o^.4aarva' 


kaw;  ^va,-.  a?    .aive   r^is.ai  mtaar 
^     \    '>r    was,. 


r  o  5  i .     (  s  ^  t- .  >  V 


wild    ra*f 'toOv  iril     hi'     iau.i    ^(S"n 

i' 


t  ;  u 


ie>air    coawave,    wa^ 


^ 


to    a-h-atiW"    iam. 


■f ) 


ut    tlu..*     n.irv    W(Te    naaah..'rt'ar 


I  r 


e  swaa^.:  i a."-^cri ijoti   iia»a 


!  -n 


h'Oit.  waacla  t-vww 


iX     .4      »     '■.  ••     t 


n  paao'  lo'  CcUa..at 
tn'iv*.  1  twa  si>v]ir. 


i  :   1  ,  1 


1 11  cro->ata:a! 


n ' 


«  ^     -.  * ",      -  ^     i=      %  1  '  -  -1  -  -      '"  1  t '  ■  w  * ,  I      ■*  ■»  *  m  \  "■      m  ?  ■ 


1  ;  ci*-  i 


)t    t)i:tSl 


^.1)  cirv,s.aa-i  auaii  ai  .as  <s.a-0-  Oeposi- 
tioiw  ?  Tia_:  aa^>\\'..a'  wa.:->,  tlait  iic  A-^iy-.'  laaai 
.  ^-^  tifl  Ol.  r     ■]]■:,  \   I  [-)  I'"    I  w  -na  ''  sui    ODi-  s  .a'ao    i  aa  ^s  i  w 

O 

the  niemorv.      Tiio  l....aasi  Caiiie  jastic<s  ao«mt<.-o 
tiiis  oxoianalion.      Coh.snaa  w,:.ntt.ai  to  vMa\ 


the  Laila...Ha..:  r(smioia   t.o"  assassaa.ii 


1  '1  T  ■  11 ;  y 


and  ohwina  tia..-  I  )aixe  oi    \  ora.    m 


!s    i rasa. I    iind 


aatiaaa    vOi    Ua^     t!as..)ne. 


r  T  -v   -,        • 

i  noi 


Ci..)Uio    ia 


oe 


don.e   ]j\    as-a^^saaiun^    C .lair 


i:  ^^ 


1  lHaa.aori.:    la..: 


nianiied.    tho   a>sassaaita.)n.        in    \srtue    of    tins 


reasnma^a;^ 
prisoner,  tii 


tia.: 


iia..SM:   sammtM 


ap    .iL^^aawt    liie 


mr\' 


•  1 


kjand  hmi  aaatxs  ana  nc  wa 


X 


2l6 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLL, 


sentenced    io 


'11 


welk' 


1   1 


tiiirs  burned  ht-fV)rc  'va. 


i  ni 


rxanip;,?.'    trrri: 


n;     mtes- 


1  1  ;-~i    iUi..  :i:"5 


Cv\i^)cu  from  (|iKirrv'iiHi,_;.  aruj  L^atii'-rrd  r-uind 
luin  ill  uir^nuu".  ^  ):it'"^  d'  •H'Uiifjd  tii-'  I  )iudu,-ss 
Mazcinn  a^  th^'  accon;jd*^^'  of  an  \\ur  ai.its 
acrain-t  th*:  Id'(utf^taMt  ]-t:a^:aui.  Idi*-  I  )uchess 
oi  ld:irt:^in.jiith,  wiai  ha.d  a  ratia">]!c  (^aapkiin  in 
hta-    huasehuld/    icil    Uial    a:    an\     iii-lafU    ^hc 


^aw    tnal    Laiarltj:^    wa^^ 


rt\ 


i '  i 


1    ^ ' 


storm,   ami    riKit   il    it 


, ,  ^    ,  a  .  1   t       :  ' 
\\  ( )u  jU    ul:    iO 


L 


' )  la  O'-    i(  if  ni^ 


(  u  t 


L  \  .  ■-...  i-  I 


—«   m  J  4 
.  /  i  i  v..^ 

to    the 
^  la ' 


tidtl  Idirrilion   thai  r>hf   C( 


a  H    ]]( *a )    Tf  'iH'.en- 


Imnn^  iajw,  tiir*;'-  iuna':'fu  x^-aia  bf.  iVmto"  Adro 
Porrar>,  the  nii-tr(-->  iA  idaward  lib,  wa^. 
^-^-di^od  to  apjKjar  !)c;i<M't-  bara.inaiit  and  smoar 
taat  ^n«:  weakl  ne\aa"  .^^^aiw  -rt;  tlkil  knio^. 
i"'Jd^-,ian(J  wa^  a  country  of  ar^-n'  d^mts.      Perhaps 


sr;e  taou^lu  Her  wirDe^^l  a. an  w 


a    ue  I 


\ '.  ■  ff  ■  1 1  •■  >*  f  1 


I     '        i.    V  . 


\   ;  ? 


U     !'(    >'   f  ' 


to  France.      *^  Mad:  ^ 

LarnuMn    to    baan^,   na    1  )ec.    i,   iojo,  "  iat>    b..d 
anuther    con\aa">aii' >n     uad     :ac.^      hiaj    a^    nuL 


^     n.rr;0,n 


','  i 


one  I  ouis,  Dec.  a   i 


i 


i. 


i 


DARRILLON. 


217 


.i.l::;        |. 


O  ,  •  '  1  f        '  > 


!   ( 


K^ 


a^stant 


sure  that  she  can  stay  in   Eng-land.      There  are 

'-"    •^\'  ^Jei■^un^^  who  are   'aaaa-a  Oa   naa;-:    ia-i'  in 

conspirino-  aa  ant  b 
i\  aia"  i^\    b'ranc  a 
would  not  be  a  great   mmiortane  t 
to  retha^  to  Fi'anr---  especiallx- sh^rr^  \ann'  '\raa^-i\' 
iia:5   ^avaureiJ    iier,  iiUuua,ii    i^uru    ^.ai--_,eriaa'..,i,  ui 

1       i  far  j)resence   la-re,  she 
[ss  1\  ;  a ■ '"  C  •  n aa?  "'■ 

a-    areserves 


o    i  a'    vjia mav-i 


1*1  * 

.lit-   1 "  5 1 ■■»  a     1  . «-,  .  t , . ,  *./.»- 


IS  aira 
wmuiii 


1     1 
aai  sne 


r,  '\ ,_  ~r 


a       4  V  i  1 1 


f ' 


'  i  a  1,. 


i. 


"">  \  •  1  T"!  '  »" 


lonorer,  to  expose  herself  ta  Ua    ra^e  ai  a  whole 

naia.';a       liar   pot;it!on   wrajid    br-  ^ad  indeed,  if, 
:aa-  m>i  lia-  km^h  ia\a.>ar.  ^^ia..;  was  assailed 


.lis. 


c5 


V.x'  V  n-: 


s  \ 


aaiaai-iir  and  people." 


The  quecai  her 


S( 


h  1 1  rs-i , 


ne,  and 


V-  i  i 


!  n '  r 


a  a:?  ni  i ian:jer   Liar; : 


to  ^^\v  1  bi'/hess  of 


thi: 


iiiu u  L  a , 


ida^    I  hibt 


1     •  1 

o;a    w. 


J  ;  I,  I  i  .  ^  I  V_  i  a  1  i    •• 


baoists.   a 


ti 


IsC 


:ep 


a"> 


^  a !  as    !. 


!.      Charles 

b  ranch 


M  ^  a  a    e    ^^ 
\\  ;.  i  I  a  s  i  a  i  i 


i^a:aime     im./\-     were 
*     barna*ea    taroug-h 


b-^aaNe,  la  bei^   tlail  h-  as, adil    -iielter    lae    pear 


,ai5  avs  at  tna  v.  m \  'a-vor 


'Idu.: 


i\mo  r' 


f  Emdarss 


inaili\'    CoWerea    di^ava    lo    tiie    ioae^i 


1  .'111  1  ; 

a  I  -M  -"'-...-  i  i '..  i  i  L ,    ..  V  a  \.  s    1 1 ,.  '  1 1 1 .  \,  t  ■•. '  i  J  I,  V.  i   t .  V  V-  .  \     vJ  a  t      \  '.**<';  a    lie 


1^ 


2l8 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


was  in  honoi;r  Ijound  to  protect.      He  had  not 

^vrn  t^^'"  rnuraLTe  to  defend  his  wife,  who,  a-  :\ 

Ccitiiolic,  \\\t-  -'I  upon  i;)'  the  Shaftesbur)"  Lr_\\ . 

The  111  tit;::     ni    iinirult  circumstances  rarely 


prescr\'c:^    ai 
lowers   e\ 


The    habil    ui    cnju\nv  nt 


V     i   i  ;  i 


O  til  '  -• 

CL       i  1  i  I,  L  .  1 


r-y    energy.       Love   of  j 'casuif   de- 

btru\>  cnira^-e.      Ui.e  sees  in  a  full  i.irun;j  li^iU, 

a  cniin   n  enough  character,  that  <  i 

i;ap!")\'  pndownvnt-^   wlio  sinlc^   dnwn 

mtu  a  it'    i'i     .  aa  J   ease  and  luxur\,  regards 

every  difficulty  \.aa  dread,  loses  all  self  r^    a -t  t. 

and,  akiaja^a    liaiurally  goodnatured,   becomes 

capable    ^^f    n^    naitaa-    what   bad   act!   a.    fr^  ai 

sheer    aaJi.lraia-    aad    cowardice.      lie    .a  h.    lac 
1    ^- 


'•i 


1  i  • 


lli: 

head 


a^  f.H    i 


:^  raws  of  hi-^  ai!-tr'-^^r-.(.'>  hv 
1  111-'  iia:  rl  aai^  ar.  ^w^iy-x  a. to 
n  I  a    people  draaiiided  liia 

nrm  ha\'s'  ua.aa, 


'U^TS,  !in  !?t  t]^ 


ill 


H^^  la  >r   (.a;  A' 


tjut 


.-.  v_  1 1  i  i 


t  j    a^  epicurean  paa^^aes, 

:^-'i    innocent  an'"]    r'^,ta^i->T-.1r; 

Lfseculur  ,    ana  iaa 


ni-f-n 


-:-n^'r-      1.: 


i  a  ^     r-  (  ;  ■  ■  n  f  f " ' '  "^ '  1 » "^  f "  M     ft)     t  i "» ( ' 


fa-?'    \vit- 

na:-ba-.        \(>ij'H,!y     an«:\\'     ijaLiLa'    tiaai     inanai.s 
vnait  tha  Caua...ia:>  want^'d.     He  vn,:.  a  Caaholic 


ina::.<;u.       i  it-  \v.i-    naa-c   grui!t\'  a^  ai 


SUi 


a!>^'    \\aua.;sses,    aa^; 


.r.a-:,,    ue- 


BARRILLON. 


219 


cause  he  not  only  Vwis  chief  magistrate,  but 
because,  with  the  money  paid  for  Ii*-  promise  to 
declare  himself  a  I'atholic,  iic  ^a^  j*-0'^"R  Titus 
Oates  and  his  laa  i  ka  fellow  perjurers,      i  i*    'et 

them  sleep  beside  hina  aia.!  -arruundca  ihem 
Willi  !iis  guards;  \\v.  ha\  i-  lie  preparation  of 
liuar  meals;  recruited,  w^iin  lia,/  na)ney  he  had 
recei\  t  a  from  Louis,  subordinate  informers,  and 
paid  lani^^  of  law  wlio  wta'o  emn]o\a^d  to  dog 
PapibU  .uul   iaiai   them  dov  ra      \\\    the  bottom 


o\ 


r 


tlv    money-chest>  winch  tha   nr^tresses   had 


nearly  emptied,  he  found  l,\o  ^  week  a  r  litus 
Oates,  \\:a  ni  he  boarded  and  lodged  in  his 
palace    of  Whitehall.      The    weoki\    allowance 

:,      C;a u'h.'S   naid 


a     J- 


( 


O' 


was  auo^mented   to  , 

aaara^aaana/   oi    \.a-~^ 


a:>eb  m  town, 


he    oai  i    spies  engaged    ni    discoveriaa    Popish 


plots.      i  h^*   hrntpstants  did  not  force  iaai  n^  an 
this.      On  the  contrarx,  he  hid   ia^    hand   when 

it  made  these  pa\"ments.      It  was  ali   ^\nn(^  out 
ui  liic  ac^rat  fund,   \ain  niona\'  Uial  ne  obtained 


m 


1      /-  ^    ' 

<  t    ,     \    >-  !  -I    1 


Tl  - 


Ha; 


a    r-  i  i 


>» 


\  I 


k      :      i,  ■    ~  «,   i.     i 


t  a 


serasflio.     (~^i 

a  har  -^'-cana  oat  j  chests, 
tar  trackiiw'  and  aia'estine 


ta'a^'or 


field 


J  K^  ^^  A.  K.  i.  \.^ 


ik 


Stipends,   were  allowed    a  r 


and  tmie 


/ 


220 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


1     t  HI  ;<''ni^  lo  depose  ;  Un  discovering  Papists 

\\-^'X\':v\  at  Cr.nrt.  aiv"!  A.T ''if  >!-min<'' wlirrc  h  --.ais 
haa  j;ru:.'L-ri\-   cuiiceai-J.       i  licy   aLu    received 

Aiiiuii^  tile  victim:,  ui  ilii:>  biianiciui  panic/ 
v.:i-  th  '  ni-.t  respected  member  m?'  '■  e  House 
^  I  I.  rds,  and  the  m  )  i  odiousl}'  condf^mned  of 
.id  ih'  alleored  ploucrs — the  Earl  of-::  afford. 
^^- iTj-  II.,  who  know  his  moral  worth,  in- 
;i  same  reproach  for  wcakn'  ,;^  as  his 
i:  :f  I  in  desertinnr  the  first  Lord  ^traf 
u.,s  guilt),  besides,  u\  iaviii  ■  paid 
P^  i-iir-    fund   the    per    i^rs    who 


!  1  •- 


ford 
out 


hr 


swore   ciw 
Charle^  C 


tiie   secon  i 


i     ^5 


life. 


c"!  ve 


J  ^    Lt 


'  for  findmg  witnesses  and  bring- 


{   I  GO. 


1  he  I  ^■chess  of  Portsmouth  did  not  descenci 

widi  t:r;  king  so  low  a^  fn    court     fitus   Oates. 

^  The  popular  instinct  was  right.  All  that  M.  Fornenon 
has  brought  to  light  shows  that  the  panic  was  well  founded. 
But  it  took  a  wrong  direction— the  king  being  the  arch 
plotter,  not  so  much  to  destroy  Protestantism,  as,  for  the 
gratification  of  his  shameful  vices,  to  reduce  England  to  the 
rnnk  of  a  satellite  of  France,  which  then,  to  obtain  the  co- 
<^a  •  -^"  ^^  t^e  Jesuits  in  Louisiana,  Indo-China,  and  in 
a  :  -  iiirh  Colonies,  became  more  Catholic  almost  than 
the  Pope.     {Translator's  A'ofe.) 


BARRILLON. 


221 


But  she  judged  well  to  make  peace  with 
Shaftesbury,  and  helped  him  to  re-enter  the 
Cabinet.  Shaftesbur\  then  became  the  prepon- 
derant minister.  Buckino-hani  '  wt^  discredited 
iii  lit  eyes  oi  every  party,  and  was  lairassed 
into  his  grave  by  his  creditors.  I )  ud  \  was 
a  prisoner  \\\  tlip  df.'W^r.  ^aad'  if  and  eitta^-ly 
depended  on  the  support  oi  ie  wise  Keroualle. 
Ifit  diis  great  rise  in  the  tide  if  las  iniLune 
tamed   Shaftesbury's  head,      lie   ihoug; a   him- 


self wa 


eet  rid  once  and   f  r 


ever   ( 


r 


'he 


real  chief  of  his   party, — a   la.ai  a^  ailing  and 
ambitious  as  himself, — the  Prince  of  Grange. 

buaie  uuier  heir  to  the  throne  was  essential 
r  tlie  perpetuation  of  Shaftesbury's  power.  He 
wanted  a  docile  tool,  and  made  tlie  blander 
4  up  as  a  Pretender  the  Duke  of  Mon- 


>  *  e.  L 


the   eldest   oj 


^a^tard"^,    '^ix 


Oi    whom  were  dukes,  and  brought  forward  a;^ 

hiq  qoTiN  whan  h^  touched  for  the  evil. 

Monmouth  had  man\    iiauual   gifts  ;  b.a   he 
lai  1  been  adulated  from  his  cradle,  spoiled  by 

iiih  LtUier,  caressed  b\-  liaj  aubire^ir^eb  oi   Charles 


ami 


t]a>  Duke  'f  ^    ilk,  and  corrai  ti  d  by  the 


ataa,;bphere  and  examples  cuiad   wiach   ia„ 
1  The  Zimri  Qf  Dryden's  Absaloin  and  AchiiopheL 


'»->'> 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


1   ;in  •   thrown  by  all  the  circumstances  of 


r?'ar 

les- 
tu   r 


;ua   MU-  i!^ ''•rtmao'e 


1   I 


a 


•  )or  chi'  {    I  ^  i  aer 


•  ■•!    ♦ 


til- MI*   <;n'-!'\M'-^ct-nce. 


L '.: .  V .  i. . 


i ;  "> 


to  wish  ;;    1  to  hf^  arcepted 


not  ^UHK  <o  r  )W  a 
as  his  la  ;r. 

The  kinQ'.  In  Iii^  oml^arrassment,  sent  vaa-'"! 
Lv  tiia  Lh^chess  ui'  I'ui  lomouth,  thai  he  wuuki 
be  glad  t<)  laiv^e  some  talk  witli  i'lrrilloii  at 
W  .alula,  J,  a^  bu.'n  >r-^  lia:  cunipan)'  she  usually 
received  there  in  the  eveninof  had  retired. 
\^  n  :i  ih^  an^bas'^ador  weiii,  Charles  told  him 
that  in  K  a.  ci  France  mio^ht,  if  la?  chose, 
T,ra<fT\'«'  tM  \\\v:\  \\[<  crrn\m,  and  attach  iarn  for 
the  rest  of  ai:.  lin-  to  hi^,  interests.  It  \\ca>  not 
a  taia-  a>r  mnvl'na-nt-  and  empty  words,  but 
for  rapid  an:;-n.  Idia  King  ui  1- ranee  would 
hn.*:  tn  decide  wlieta  r  England  was  t^  remain 
a  niu:aava\  a  uacoaio  a  republic.  Things  had 
come  t  >  -adi  a  pas^  t'a  t  hi-  majesty  would 
'^  i^'''  ''^  !nna^-  an  iii:,  aand  to  support  Ida'aiiy. 
Unless  he  did  so,  nothing  could  prevent  the 
ParC.nnaii  nran  ad^olnt^-l}-  disposing  of  ques- 
ts-a-^  'a  iieace,  v;,a\  and  alliances.  Ida.uiy, 
Ci;  nd'  ^    urged    Barrillon    to    repeat  all   that  he 


BARRILLON. 


223 


e  nis  sovereiofn.   inv 


Conjure  liie  ivmg 


(i  i  ranee,  in  his  name,  to  heia  a  course  which 

\k)x  ilia  re::>i  aa'  ia':^  aft.  xvKad  nad^r  f^nq-land 
vA  upon  him.  auvl  attacii  t;a:  idrr^>'ai 
i  -\   to  his  interests. 

1   profited  by  the  opportunity  to  tax 
wiii^  palterine  conduct  :  and  wdtii  some 

:a?    Princess 


(  ao< 


"1  J    !   ! 

III. 


Id 


La 


^iiarpness    reproached   him   widi 
Mary's    D    ■    a    marriage.       II 


rt'inuiueei    mm 


\  w  1  r 


iiuLa  iti;  aanding  the  heavy  pecuniary 
sacrifices  addidi  tin-  King  of  rrna  had  made, 
he  iiad  always  reason  to  complain  ih  a  lintjlish 
ph  utrality  was  insecure. 

(dairies  asked  for  the  ftivuur  la  another 
aanarsation,  an  account  of  which,  along  with 
that  of  the   one  just   cited,  is  given    on    July 


13,     1676,    in    the    Foreign 


1,1, 


archives. 


The    King-    of    England    owned     that   tlio    r^. 


a  i  i  Li 


proaches  Kji  Barrillon  were  well  a  a^  : 
yet  not  quite  just.  How  was  it  possible  to 
re^^ist  the  Duke  ei  d'ork  and  the  Lord 
Treasurer,  who  wanted  to  usii  f  r  popularity 
n  ar\!ni^  out  aq-ainst  France!^  becreii)  he 
stood  out  against  them  as  far  as  he  could ; 
iait  tin  re  were  resistless  fataliues  nait  dracrcred 
Inni   Ota      Charles   admitted    that    he   erred    in 


{ 

) 


224 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


n(>:  1  oreseeing  what  the  Dutch  match  would 
lead  to.  But  his  bitter  experience  would  be 
a  or^iarantee  of  his  future  conduct ;  and  the 
Kinof  f  f  F^-ance  mio^ht  credit  him  when  he 
declared  thi-  :ii  future,  nothing  in  ilic  world 
would  del  .  ;i  iii'ii  from  his  interests.  He 
saw  V  it:i  lain  uiJ  deep  grief  the  shedding  of 
innocent  i  *i  D  t  \^.  Ve  had  stood  between 
the  accused  Catholics  and  the  national  fiirv. 
he  would   Ikuc  risked  everything. 

M    n  \  hiie.  }'oung  Monmouth, — and  particu- 


jari)'  ill  the  e\"rn 
by   wine, 


v.     i  V  i. 


aiL  r  supper,  when  excited 
tiirough   his   mother,   Lucy 


\\\.U      ..       1      J 


iruiii    J—LiWci!''. 


l\ 


LiiC 


^  Charles,  who  seems  to  have  had  a  taste  for  Celtic  beauty 
had  among  his  concubines  a  Breton  (Louise  de  Keroualle), 
two  Welsh  women  (Lucy  Walters,  or  Barlow,  and  Nell 
Gwynn),  and  an  Irish  woman  (Peg  Hughes).  Lucy  Walters, 
Monmouth's  mother,  was, — in  1649,  when  she  was  with  him 
at  St.  Germains  en  Laye,  where  Evelyn  first  saw  her, — a 
beautiful,  brown,  bold,  and  insipid  creature.  She  was  the 
daughter  ■  f  llichard  Walters,  of  Haverfordwest  in  Wales, 
a  gentleman  of  little  means,  and  she  came  to  London  to 
S;.ck  htf  fortune.  Algernon  Sidney,  when  a  colonel  in 
Cromwell's  ai  ni),  meant  to  have  her,  and  gave  her  fifty 
broad  pieces  (as  he  told  the  Duke  of  York),  but  missed 
his   bargain,   ;ic    havmg   i^ccn    hastily    sent   away  with  his 

u/A   into  the  hands  of  his  brother.  Colonel 
/,    i:u:n    wh-jin   Charles   IL    got   her    la    his 


regmient 


]< 


\kJ  , 


*^^    *  '^fc  * 


BARR/LLOA. 


225 


rights  of  the  House  of  Plantagenet.  This, 
Barrillon  thought,  might  be  regarded  at  Ver- 
sailles as  chimerical.  But  chimeras  were  less 
ridiculous  in  England  than  elsewhere.^  There 
was  a  general  taste  for  romantic  improbability, 
which  would  serve  the  ends  of  an  impostor  ; 
and  the  common  people  liked  the  fables  they 
saw  played  in  the  theatres,  about  mysterious 
marriages  being  cleared  up,  and  true  heirs  in 
the  end,  coming  by  their  own. 

Louis  stopped  supplies,  and  drily  wrote,  that 
until  a  positive  engagement  was  made  that 
Parliament  would  not  be  again  convoked,  no 
further  subsidy  would  be  given.  Charles 
accepted  his  humiliation,  and,  at  the  Duchess 
in  {  iftsmouth's  rooms,  told  Barrillon  that  he 
had  resolved  to  follow  the  course  proposed  by 
Louis,  and  not  to  let  Parliament  assemble  until 

wanderings.  The  world  had  cause  to  doubt  whether  Mon- 
mouth was  a  Stuart  or  a  Sidney.  He  had  the  countenance, 
complexion,  stature,  and  even  the  wart  on  the  face  of 
Robert  Sidney.  However,  the  king  owned  him.  Lucy 
W  liters  called  herself  Mrs.  Barlow.  She  led  such  a  loose 
life  during  the  campaign  of  Charles,  ending  in  his  escape 
at  Worcester,  that  he  would  have  nothing  more  to  do  with 
her ;  and  she  became  a  woman  of  the  town  in  Paris,  where 
she  died  miserably.     {Translator's  Note.) 

1  Barrillon  to  King  Louis,  July  6,  and  July  13,  1679. 

Q 


I  ■ 


226 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


BARRILLON, 


i\ 


convc 


I  k  t '  ( 


'    v   4    C  i     I 


c  judged   liKu    ! 
vucnience  to  him. 


n  V  '  r]■lf- 


J_  \vc 


a^sador  recriminated 


f  s 


!^     f!ir 


sovereicrn,  and 


as  IV 


n  •  -  n 

i  i  1  I  1 1 


:uuld  reasonaW\' 


iiU,.U     I 


t; 


i  1 


L  i  . 


U 


lat 
Lxciiequf  r   could    attoit :     t  •    sub- 

V  t:i   uiibiiiited  generosity,   i:   he 

enemies  of  the 
rine  a  li  ^e  doing  ^o  helped  Euro- 
e-  tj  make  war  upon  him.  The 
su-uiinfd  again:  I  >rein  Holland, 
Inipire,  wa .  a  wasting  one.  If 
:  i  an  intelligent  perception  of  his 
r^L.  h  wo.l  ;  \x\  to  spare  France 
i  t  me  eey  expense.  But  instead  of 
mt  war  ie^ei  e^:L:ii  Lc^un  L.  tho  KiniT 
a:.  lit  made  peace  certainly  with 
an  ;  under  lac  constraint  of  the 
en  nons.  waiich  forced  hiai  U}  make 
it  r  n  a  separate  luoung,  and  to  leave  France 
sm^I  !  andeJ  a^  f^'a  Europe.  This  misfor- 
tune:' draaa.>!  ta-  e'r-nrh  exchequer.  !i  was 
no  i   u^rr  I  ossible  to  give  heavy  subsidies  un- 


t  II  i  ■»  s. 

(a,..,„ 

V_,    i   i  >.  t  . 

owai 


H: 


r*f  - 


I  i 


less  for  serines  services.  Formerly  they  had 
been  ^i\ xii  <  ai  t -i  brotherly  friendship,  and  this 
might  1  ave  been  cont'   eed  had  Charles  proved 

staaacai    in    cw^ving   to    the    French    alliance, 


ii. 


227 


and  enabled  Louis  to  dispose  rapidly  of  his 
enemies.  However,  as  Louis  did  not  wish  to 
see  Charles  distressed  for  want  of  money,  he 
would  give  him  a  proof  of  his  desire  to  see 
him  free  from  pecuniary  embarrassments  and 
his  authority  restored.  iu  this  end  he  had 
ordered  Barrillon  to  offer  him  an  advance  of 
^20,000  if  he  would  engage  noi  10  convoke 
Parliament  before  the  month  of  March. 

Charles  expressed  great  surprise  at  the  offer 
of  so  inconsiderable  a  sum,  and  spoke  warmly 
about  the  alternative  which  was  imposed  on  him 
of  either  being  reduced  to  dependence  on  Louis 
or  of  letting  the  House  ot  Commons  act  accord- 
ing to  its  impetuous  hatred  or  caprice.  He 
eot  the  Duchess  of  Portsmoutli  to  plead  for 
him,  and  submitted  to  her  in  everything.  She 
had  the  skill  t  )  direct  the  Government  through 
the  medium  of  Sunderland.  What  liitle  energy 
remained  to  Charles  he  showed  in  defending 
her.  r  wo  young  courtiers.  J  arret  and  Dunquot,^ 
set  her  little  blackamoor  drunk,  and  gave  him 
monev  to  tell  them  things  derogatory  to  the 
ladies,    and    in    particular    to    the    one    most 

1  Probably    Duncomb.     English   names    are   sometimes 
mis- spelt  by  Louis's  imbassadors      (Translator's  Note.) 


\ 


I  'I 


228 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


honoured  by  the  attentions  of  the  King  of 
England.  When  the  slanderous  tittle-tattle 
which  they  based  on  what  they  heard  from  the 
blackamoor  caiiK  to  the  king's  ears,  he  forbade 
them  to  appear  at  Court.  A  cause  of  fresh 
and  deen  a!inr\ance  to  him  was,  to  find  that 
his  s<  r  I  conferences  with  Barrillon  were  re- 
vealed by  ^  inderland's  wife,  who  feared  her 
husband  mic^ht  be  compromised  by  his  rela- 
t:  ;  villi  1  ranee.  She  vowed  to  everyone 
thit    she   v;as    in  a  state   of  constant   hostility 


to  the  I  ^ichess  oi  P  )rtsmouth,  and  that  that 
*'  designing  jade"  brought  about  interviews  be- 
tween die  king  and  Barrillon,  gave  the  latter 
his  cue,  and  that  he  repeated  what  she  told 
him  like  a  prating  starling.  The  Countess 
protested,  t^et  all  she  asked  w^as  to  extricate 
her  iiusband  from  danorerous  intrioues.^  At 
the  same  time,  Algernon  Sidney  ^  beheld  with 
irritatinn  the   favour  which   the   Frenchwoman 

1  Henry  Sid  fiefs  Diary  of  the  Times  of  Charles  11.^  ed. 
1843,  vol.  I,  p.  232,  the  Countess  of  Sunderland  to  H. 
Sidney,  Jan.  13,  1676. 

2  Algernon  Sidney's  Letters  to  H.  Saville  in  the  Year  1679. 
London  :  1742.  See  letters  from  Feb.  20  to  April  28, 
1679.  I  do  not  know  what  value  is  to  be  attached  to  these 
letters  on  the  score  of  authenticity. 


BARRILLON. 


229 


enjoyed,  and  the  want  of  energy  of  the  House 
of  Commons,  which,  when  her  name  was  men- 
tioned in  a  debate,  did  not  seize  the  opportunity 
to  attack  her.  To  prevent  herself  being  attacked, 
she  adroitly  looked  for  support  in  Monmouth. 
There  was  in  her  following  a  confidential 
servant,  one  Mistress  Wall,^  who  cried  on  the 
house-tops  about  Louise's  passion  for  him,  and 
Kj\  her  disinterested  tenderness  in  trying  to 
further  his  pretensions.  This  Mistress  Wall 
was  given,  as  a  recompense,  the  privilege  of 
furnishing  body-linen  to  the  queen,  and 
promised  the  secret  function  of  Mistress  Chif- 
finch  whenever  she  mio^ht  die.^  These  tricks 
came  out,  and  were  made  a  theme  for  satirical 
lampoons.  The  pamphleteers  published  **  inter- 
cepted letters "  from  Madam  Carwell  to  the 
Duke  of  Aionmouth.  They  taxed  their  in- 
genuity to  place  her,  to  the  nation,  in  the 
most  odious  light,  by  holding  her  up  as  the 
sheet-anchor  of  the  Catholics  and  of  France. 
She  was  made  to  say  to  Monmouth,  **  All 
these  Eno^lish  hate  me,  but  that  does  not 
trouble  me,  since  the  king  tells  me  everything, 
and  my  friends  alone  have  influence." 

1  Henry  Sidney's  Diary,  vol.  i.,  p.  170,  Nov.  17,  1679. 

2  Ibid.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  22,  April  2,  1680. 


( 


230 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


The  i  jjchess  renewed  her  instances  with  the 
FrencI:  a:  -bassador  on  behalf  of  Charles. 

''I  sa  V  \  rtrday,"  wrote  Barrillon,^  "Madame 
de  Portsmouth,  from  whom  the  King  of  Eng- 
land keeps  nothing  hidden.  She  came  to  tell 
I::  i:;a:  ;1  xulu  Majesty  would  give  him  four 
niiliit  :h  f  livres  a  year  for  three  years,  he 
vajiil  :  till  r  :u  '  aiv  engagement  your  Majesty 
laL^iit  propose.  But  without  this  sum  he  could 
not  avoid  assembling  Parliament.  The  king 
himself  told  me  later  in  the  day,  that  he  was 
ni  rii^r' I  tn  be  reduced  to  driving  a  bargain 
wiih  \  -  ^'-'s  M.ijesty.' 

\  \     ■  -.  '    .  .    t  '  "1  ,"-.  r  r' 


)> 


!i  --  negotiations  were  going  on,  the 
hopes  01  Moanij  an  cUid  Shaftesbury  were 
raised.  Pat  Charles  was  taken  with  a  malig- 
naai  K\  r,  la  ;  ^^eemed  on  the  verge  of  the 
L,r.a.  ,  \v;a  a  riis  doctors  gave  him  up  and 
aHavt  1    Ian   ta    lake    the    Chevalier    Talbot's 

specific,    which    was    then    a    novelty 


ciaanae 


and     known 


I  as  a  its'    bark. 


This    illness 


*  This  letter  should  be  regarded  as  of  doubtfLil  authenti 
city.     It  is  not  in  any  of  the  French  State  records,  and  is 
only  found  in  the  MS.  of  the  British  Museum. 

-  The  disease,  according  to  Evelyn,  was  ague;  and  quinine, 
or  qimiqiiina^  had  been  brought  into  vogue,  not  by  Talbot, 
but  by  Tudor,  the  king's  apothecary.    The  physicians  would 


BARRILLON. 


231 


! 

I 


brought  about  Shaftesbury's  and  Sunderland's 
disgrace.  The  Duchess  of  Portsmouth  and 
the  Duke  of  York  united  to  <:^et  Monmouth 
sent  from  London.  He  was  saved  from 
exile  by  Louis,  who  feared  such  a  stretch  of 
authority  would  give  rise  to  a  situation  that 
would  force  Charles  to  make  concessions  to 
Parliament.  He  also  pointed  out  to  Barrillon 
that  the,  for  him,  cheapest  manner  of  proceed- 
ing, was  to  foment  quarrels  between  the  king 
and  Opposition,  by  (giving  subventions  only  to 
members  of  both  Houses  ;  and  he  continued 
his  largesses  tn  the  Country  party. 

Tu  diis  end  Barrillon  paid  Algernon  Sidney^ 


not,  out  of  envy  of  Tudor,  give  it  to  Charles,  until  the  king 
secretly  obtained  the  opinion  of  Dr.  Short,  in  whom  he  had 
confidence  because  he  was  reputed  (falsely)  a  Papist,  and 
was  told  that  it  was  the  only  thing  that  could  save  him. 
( Translator's  Note. ) 

1  It  is  due  to  the  memory  of  Sidney,  to  say  that  his  Re- 
publicanism was  thought  sincere  by  the  different  agents  of 
Louis,  and  that  they  classed  him  among  the  political  English- 
men of  his  time  who  were  not  bereft  of  moral  sense.  There 
is  no  direct  evidence  in  the  French  records  to  show  under 
what  pretext  or  through  what  agency  the  French  Embassy 
got  round  Sidney,  and  induced  him  to  be  a  pensioner  of 
Louis.  But  from  much  in  them  the  inference  may  be  drawn 
that  he  thought  any  stick  good  enough  to  beat  down  such 


232 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


BARRILLON. 


233 


the  500  guinea'^  thnt  he  wanted  ;  to  Baber,  the 
Presbyterian     leader  the    Commons,     500 

guinea^^  :  tn  !     ileton,  500  guineas  ;  to  Powels, 
500   iQ^iiineas ;  i      Herbert,^  500   guineas;    and 

"to   niaiiitain    iiui-irode  in   his   employment  at 
Brussels,"  400  guineas. 

Notw  !t'v4:L!i  "iii^  these  gratifications,  Parlia- 
ment continued  unmanageable.  Monmouth 
crime  back  triumphantly  to  London.  Barrillon 
informed  I,  ;i-  that  an  event  had  just  taken 
place   "  w  iiicii   uo   ki   have  appeared  most    ex- 


!\^    oth^^r    coiniiry."^ 


traoic  :irL.;,rjv-  m  anv  oin^^T  roinury.  "  n  was 
the  r;turn  cf  Monmouth,  "who  every  night," 
]j.irrii;i»n  a'i'lL:U,  "sups  \v!"h  X-lly,  the  courte- 
san w:  :k.  :»  in  ihe  king  two  children,  and 
whom  he  daily  visits."     Nelly  set  up  to  place 

a  vile  thing  as  the  English  throne  had  become ;  and  made 
up  his  mind  to  aqcept  aids  which  Barrillon  artfully  led  him 
to  hope  for.  Sidney  spent  a  good  deal  of  money  in  trying 
to  get  up  a  Republican  movement.     [Translator' s  Note.) 

^  Probably  the  Herbert  who  became  Lord  Herbert  of 
Cherbury  in  1678,  and  was  grandson  of  Herbert  the  author. 
He  married  Catherine,  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Bradford. 
The  otht  Herbert  was  William,  Earl  of  Powis,  Marquis  of 
Montgomer.\  vho,  being  a  Catholic,  could  have  no  influence. 
Herbert  Earl  of  Pembroke,  Louise  Keroualle's  broiher-in 
law,  was  never  ;ii  tii^  House  of  Commons. 

2  Barrillon  t  >  Louis,  Dec.  14,  1679. 


r 

f 


herself  at  the  head  of  the  Protestants,  which 
did  not  prevent  her  subsequently  from  going 
over  to  the  Catholic  Church.^  Parhament 
demanded  the  removal  from  Court  of  the 
Duchess  of  Portsmouth  and  Sunderland,  against 
whom  the  heads  of  an  impeachment  were  drawn 
up.  It  was  proposed  to  execute  them  both, 
with  Danby  and  the  Catholics  who  were  in  the 
Tower. 

Charles  at  last  resolved  to  prorogue  Parlia- 
ment. As  the  treaty  of  which  this  step  was  a 
condition  remained  a  secret,  it  was  attributed 
to  '*  Madam  Carwell."  She,  it  was  said,  feeling 
herself  exposed  to  an  impeachment,  made  the 
king  prorogue  for  a  long  period.  She  was 
alarmed  at  the  rumours  to  this  effect,  and  fell 
ill  from  sheer  fright.  She  spoke  of  dismissing 
all  her  Catholic  servants,  and  prepared  to  re- 
tire, herself,  to  France. 

i  Letters  in  the  Verney  collection  at  Claydon  House. 


V 


lAPTER    IX. 


SUNDERLAND  AND   SHAFTESBURY, 

The  sudden  blow  which  Charles  struck  de- 
ferred the  (iaiurr  III  which  Louise  stood,  with- 
out suppressino-  it.      Popular  hatred  of  France 

ran  higher  in  m  ever-  n-d   tii*  judges  were  as 

abject  .11  pand'-nn^-  ld  the  aniniosity  of  the 
nation  is  th^n*  had  ber^n  S'^rvd^  to  tlv^  Oovern- 
Jioou.  i  li'j  !  KjCiic::?:^  l4  i''u.' l - 1  iiou th,  b}^  boldly 
standing  up  'o  t!d,  risisfir  ili*  French  alHance, 
becaiio  ihc  uuje^t  ui  general  hatred,  and  was 
th  it  th^  king  would  persevere  in 
h^ot  'H  ^.^\  the  sin^j-ritv  oi"  liie  I  o-ke 
\\h-;i  ii'  sought  to  unite  with  her. 
:ia  I  ag;dn  funnel  anntlip-  ir'  tress, 
who  wn^  the  daughter  a  a  u  ^bleman.^  His 
brotiier  sou  ; at  tn  make  his  peace  with  the 
Piutc.  tit;:: ,    and    offered    as   a    holocaust     the 

1  Thought  to  be  the  daughter  of  Rochester,  who,  in  1683, 

married  Lord  <^^s)ry. 

234 


laa 

defei 

:    \ 

t  •  1      1 

'  r     • 

1  Tie 


■■i<nr 


SUNDERLAND  AND  SHAFTESBURY. 


^35 


Duchess  of  Portsmouth.^  She  had  therefore  to 
manoeuvre  w^ith  extreme  dexterity  in  keeping 
all  her  friends,  and  in  not  ^exasperating  her 
enemies.  She  entered  into  the  closest  union 
with  Sunderland.  In  this  she  scandalized  his 
beautiful  wife,  who  wrote  :  ''  So  damned  a  jade 
as  this  would  sell  us  without  hesitation  for  500 
guineas."  Louise  and  Sunderland  drew  to- 
wards them,  and  brought  into  their  orbit  the 
supple,  adventurous,  and  clever  Godolphin, 
who  was  coquetting  with  the  i h'nce  of  Orange. 
The  latter  was  becoming  uneasy  at  the  preten- 
sions of  Monmouth.  The  efforts  of  the  Duchess 
of  Portsmouth  and  Sunderland  in  ^680  were 
directed  towards  keeping  alive  the  uneasiness 
of  the  Prince  of  Orange,  husband  to  the  pre- 
sumptive heiress  to  the  throne  :  not  letting  the 
Duke  of  York,  whom  they  knew  to  be  cold 
and  selfish,  play  them  false,  and  avoiding  to 
stir  the  bile  of  Shaftesbury,  or  to  wound  Mon- 
mouth's vanity.  The  PVenchwomaii  took  the 
audacious  course  of  declaring  openly  for  the 
Prince  and  Princess  of  Orange;  and  \vas  so 
explicit   in  declaring  she   preferred  English  to 


^  Barrillon   to  Louis  :  "  I   believe  each  wishes  to   save 
himself  at  ihe  cost  of  the  other." 


236 


LOUISE  DE   KEROUALLE 


French  interests  as  to  seriously  alarm  Barrillon 
and  make  him  lose  his  temper,  which  was 
further  tried  on  his  hearinor  that  she  sought  to 
be  on  good  terms  with  the  arch-enemy  of 
France.  But  she  re-assured  him  somewhat,  by 
coming  privily  to  tell  him  that  the  king  at 
bottom  was  what  he  always  had  been,  and 
that  he  wished  to  preserve  the  friendship  and 
aliicince  of  the  King  of  France.^  The  French 
an  ■  issador,  however,  could  extract  nothino- 
irum  iicr  regarding  the  conclusion  of  the  treaty. 
Ihrillon  did  not  attach  at  this  time  much 
importance  to  the  services  of  the  Duchess.  He 
knew^  that  public  opinion  had  risen  against  her 
with  a  violence  which  he  thouorht  irresistible. 
iij  overheard  tipsv  bloods  in  the  theatre^ 
speak  \:\  abusive  terms  of  her  and  Lord  Sun- 
derland ;  and  0:1  liiu  c^ame  day  the  Duke  of 
M  rimouth's  health  was  drunk  by  the  wild 
youncf  m^^n  about  town,  in  all  the  taverns  and 
cuii-jc  houses.^     Barrillon  thought  he  might  by 

^  Barrillon  :>  King  Louis,  to  whom,  after  Pomponne's 
disgrace  in  1679,  he  addressed  most  of  his  letters. 

-  Barrillon  to  King  Louis,  Jan.  15,  1680. 

3  May  20,  1680.  It  was  in  this  letter  Barrillon  said  of 
the  future  Duke  of  Marlborough  :  *'  He  is  wholly  inexpe- 
rienced in  public  busmess." 


SUNDERLAND  AND   SHAFTESBURY.        237 


his  efforts  create  a  cross  current  of  opinion 
which  would  take  from  the  tumultuous  force 
of  the  one  that  was  growing  up,  and  that  he 
might  get  the  better  of  intriguers  by  corruption. 
He  moreover  thouorht  it  of  the  hio^hest  im- 
portance  to  retain  Montagu  by  his  sister,  Lady 
Harvey,  who  had  power  over  his  mind,  and 
who  could  render  many  useful  services.  She 
might  be  secured  by  a  nice  present ;  and  the 
snuff-box  intended  for  Lord  Holies,  not  having 
been  given  to  him,  might  go  lu  the  lady.  If 
his  Majesty  thought  it  too  considerable,  a  sum 
of  less  value  than  it  represented  would  do  as 
well,  for  she  was  not  above  taking  money. 
Mr  rapacity  might  be  stimulated  by  insinu- 
ating that  she  might  expect  further  gifts  from 
France.  As  her  aid  could  be  most  valuable, 
Barrillon  was  anxious  to  secure  it.  He  also, 
he  said  in  the  despatch  on  this  subject,  had 
gained  two  Nonconformist  preachers.^  His 
aim  was  to  form  a  solid  group  of  agents  from 
the  different  parties,  and  to  use  alike  Republi- 
cans and  courtiers.  To  well  understand  this 
policy,  his  "list  of  persons  to  whom  gratuities 
may  be  offered  "  ^  should  be  read. 

1  July  I,  1680.  ^  July  24,  16S0. 


238 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


In    ih-'   L.t: 
ment  he  ^.L\ 
H'  )\^;  more  C(  mi 
11  :l,  hi  perluL';: 
but    1    think   t 


r  i !  )'r 


"> .  1 


J  i  1  J  1  i      L  ^_'      \  V 


a  sum 


\i--    olff 


^i"     //^     fllOlloi: 
o 

|';.riisans  wou! 
be  placed  in  a 


ncii  accompanied   that  docu- 
i  in     i  ^ike   of   hL,:,inouth    is 
^  ""^  tlian  anybody  else,     i  in 
being  offered   iiiuin  \'  ; 
mder  the  pretext  of  enablmg 
n-  nn'nnn;nn,:'n;  ^  =  A    courtiers, 
r  him  to  dispose  of 
K'dL      In   gaining   him,    all   his 
i  :   •  gained  as  well,  and  he  would 
•tn ation  in  which  iu^  could  never 
more    be    reconciled    witli    the    Court,    or  the 
Ih  ince  CI  <  nan-p      1  1    wever,  it  should  be  made 
1  tina  he  wa.  to  prevent   Parliament 
king    anv    money,   because,    if  his 
majesty  Charles   W,  does  not  feel   his  depend- 
ence,   he    vhH    give  us   t-e   slip.      T   tiiink   the 
lK...e  should   be   offered  ;/;'4,ooo.       Ihi^  would 
be  more  efflcaci  n^  than   if  we  spent  twice  as 
mnrh    in    I  ribing  th^   Parliament.      Shaftesbury 
directs  ak  lin    attacks  against  the  Court,  and  is 
^'   ^  -''  b(  ad  oi    die  malconteiUb.      If  money  is 
..     '  -    --  '    ^^''d  in:  tldnks  he  has  J  ranee  behind 
in:n    he  wiii  be  mnre    daring.      ^4,000   is   the 
lea  i  ti   n  n-    hd  be  offered  to  him.      The  mem- 
ber- ef  til.    i  I, use  o!'  Commons  who  might  be 
usefully    bou-iii.are:     Algernon    Sidney,    for 


e 


SUNDERLAND  AND  SHAFTESBURY. 


239 


500   guineas   down,   WMtli   the   promise  of  500 
guineas  more;   Powels,  1,000  t;  lirnMs     1  ierbert, 


1,000  guineas  ;  Baber,  1,000  i;  ninieas.      All  the 

ntlier  memlmrs  nann-d,  in  irir  annexed  list  were 
tested  in  tiie  UaidA'  affair,  and  v^i'XKt  very  use- 
fn],      Paber  is  not  in    k.nhianient,  iint   in.-  mixes 

I. n  1 ',.  iiieii  ciiiv^L  walii 
the  Presbyterian  n  ami  in  ha>  tin  ir  confidence. 
1  [r  is  a    nn\n    from  wlinpi    \ 


a  good  deal   waLu    in 


.U  i  1' 


JKl     It 


inn': 


inr.  e    nmch    profit, 
■-   ni}-  intinan;}-  v/ith 
Xa^v^a  \  lolles.      Tiicrc  are  other  laeinbers  of  the 
House   of  Comniun.s   who  could  be   made,  ac- 

inlties    and   cennnncrtnres,    to 
Vdndinorton,^   who   has   been 

Cnlonel     i  itnrn  knrnet,  Ber- 
:uid     ih,innn>n,    who    are    all 

dity  in    \.ox\^ox\.  and   highly 


cnrdino"  to  onnc^ 
serve   our    ends. 

s=  n  icit'"' '*-\  I  en  era  i 
narU,  cUki  \l-'-\ ■  ^ 
nKaxhants  of  tin 


ted    id 


treasurer  of 


resjjecceu    i  re:3ij\  Leriaii::)  ,     i  iaVer 

the   Corporation  of  T  ondon ;   S  adn  verell,^  and 

ui      I  hntkirix^      It    is 


the   ex-go vernoj 


1  Probably  Sir  T  "^Viddringtonj  who  was  Speaker  under 
Cromwell,  but  very  old  in  1680. 

^  Not  the  preacher  who  obtained  for  himself  prominence 
in  Anne's  time,  but  an  ALP.  who  was  rabid  against  the 
second  Earl  of  Strafford.  Player  was  the  City  Chamberlain, 
and  the  "  railing  Rabsheka "  of  Dry  den's  Absalom  and 
Achitophd. 


240 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


hard  to  say  what  might  be  offered  to  each  of 
them.  But  t  re  might  be  a  fund  of  20.000 
crowns  placed  at  my  disposal,  which  could  be 
employed  .u.  -r  iing  to  the  utility  ^nd  facility 
th  It  there  would  be  in  gaining  them.  It  is 
iiiJispensable  lu  begin  wxlh  a  payment  of  1,000 
guineas  to  M*  -ttigu,  who  is  industrious,  capable 

inplication,  and  enjoys  the  entire 
lih  D  ;!ve  of  Monmouth.  This 
to  be  remitted  to  him  before  the 
:n!  i\  \.iun  I  promised  d  iL  he 
i:."  Louis  X!\  .  rot^  in  pencil 
1  I  liie  letter:  '•  dd  ^olbert  will 
r  r  r  4.000  pistoles.  Instruct 
!   iiave  a  letiur  uf  change  sent   io 

r  100,000  francs." 

dsted  that,  in  his  judgment,  France 

\e  a  secret  bias  f  r  any  party,^  but 

1   nn^^  against  tiic  other,  and  keep 

-   drawn.      i  liub   the    King  of 


confidence  ot 

riH.,)ivw'  oii-d:t 
end   it    ^   i ^^ 


Oil 


give 


a:i    ! 


.U..L 


dd   Barrilii 


I 


r^iiouid  : 

S^:i  LI 

them 


it-   f-  ]-\  fii  m 


cdc:> 


1  It  is  to  be  gathered  from  the  correspondence  between 
him  and  the  Court  of  Versailles,  that  he  was  reproached 
with  having  encouraged  Sidney  to  appeal  to  his  old  Iron- 
side comrades  against  Monarchy.  The  warmth  with  which 
he  insists  that  the  King  of  France  should  be  indifferent  as 
to  means,  Republican  or  other,  in  a  degree  clears  Sidney's 
memory.     {Translators  Avfe.) 


ti 


I 


'i 


SUNDERLAND  AND   SHAFTESBURY 


241 


France,  who  was  destined  to  revoke  the  Edict 
of  Nantes,  was  led  to  support  the  Presbyteri- 
ans, because  the  Prince  of  Orange,  whom  he 
hated,  was  drawing  close  to  Charies.  His 
ambassador  only  thought  of  preventing  these 
sectarians  falling  into  pits  dug  for  them  by  diic 
Court  •  and  with  this  object  made  the  acquaint- 
ance of  their  chief  orators.  He  so  o-ained 
Powels^  that  he  was  able  to  write:  ''This 
person  is  entirely   wiiii  nic,  and  will  luiiow  all 


ame  steps 


my  instructions.  I  have  take 
to  brino-  Herbert  into  my  hand.  Nobody  made 
hd]i  elf  so  useful  in  the  Danby  affair.  He 
stayed  a  whole  day  when  the  impeachment 
debate  was  going  on,^  and  only  allowed  those 
whom  di  thought  favourable  to  the  Court  to 
go  out,  and  prevented  the  others  leaving,  almost 
by  force.^  He  is  a  strong,  vehement,  hot-tem- 
pered, and  selfish  fellow.  I  have  much  inter- 
course   with     Sidney.     He   is  greatly  opposed 

^  Poule.  2  Oct.  4,  1680. 

3  The  English  historians  never  seem  to  have  suspected 
the  real  cause  of  Danby's  impeachment.  They  regard  it  as 
due  to  political  rivalry  or  patriotic  indignation.  It  was 
simply  owing  to  the  rancour  of  Louis,  and  to  all  the  money 
he  spent  in  hunting  down  Danby,  whose  foil,  he  thought, 
would  serve  as  a  warning  to  Charles.     {Translator's  Note.) 

k 


f     I 

I 


242 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


to  the  CuL.il.      L 
Siinder'an  1,    who 

round  h:;n  i^  ^v   tm 
tha:    ^Miu.-\'    a.L- 
R^pi:ijli( 
bvt    r:; 


1    have  reason  to  fear  that 
\>    his    nephew,     is    getting 

^:    t::c   I'rHicu  ui   Urange.      1    !.fa)w 

a  I-    I     :vor\g  leaning  towards  the 

I'aber  continues   lo   work  the  Pres- 


.~i. 


<  ■•  I 


'o 


opf:nl}'. 


i:^ 


1 1    a     taraucrh    him     la   '     I    have 

popular  preachers,  who  can  insinu- 

->    whicii    it    would    never    do    to    say 

1    kiM'      they    have    spoken    in    the 

f  a   in. tiler  ahich  would  not  count  any 

-c   unlass  here,  but    i  b'ch   in   England 

L  the   Prince  of  Orancre 


q, 


:;,      Li. a 


The 
at  this 


dauo^hter 


i-;a\  b. 

a.:,-v;j     Ol      J 


eves, 


\  \ 


tsmouth  had  no  cause, 
to  be  afraid  of  Nell  Gwynn,  whose 
lai  in  a  died,  oae  had  recruited 
;  1  laa  .a; tress,  Mary  Davis,  whose 
:  \va^^  bringing  up  under  her  own 
Hitention  of  giving  her  in   mar- 


riage to  Siind  aa  aal's  son.      She  even  suffered 

eive  some    uiie  marital  atten- 


.  4   t*  V_  V_  i  I       I,  W 


iill^^         V.4C*V_V_il       i.'^J         iCL, 


1  James  Beauclerc,  died  in  1680  ;  the  second  son,  Charles, 
born  May  8,  1670,  was  created  Duke  of  St.  Albans  on 
Tnn.  10,  1684,  and  married,  in  1694,  Diana  de  Vere,  the 
last  of  the  '  a" aa  de  Veres.  He  was  the  ancestor  of  the 
present  Duke  of  St.  Albans. 


SUNDERLAND  AND  SHAFTESBURY.        243 


tions  from  her  indolent  husband.      He  went  to 
inform   Catherine   of  what  had  taken  place   at 

a   debate  in  the   House   of   la  a  dx^   and,  as  a 
mark  of  extraoi  i  a.aa    kindness, 


s.u. 


ui    ;:3ume 

tim-  in  her  chamber  after  dinnt'  aad  da  a  took 
a  1  wii^  iiap  there — a  thino-  he  was  onlv  in  the 
habit  of  doing  in  the  rooms  of  the  Duchess 
of  i'urtsmouth. 

The  apoplectic  Charles  had  allowed  Parlia- 
ment la  be  convoked  tt  rhe  r^na  jf  1680,  when 
it  discussed  a  bin  ii  exclude  iiih  brother  from 
the  throne  P  *a;a.n  redoubled  his  efforts  to 
destroy  the  chances  of  the  Prince  of  Orange.^ 
He  was  oblio^ed  to  ^o  to  work  throuoh  agents. 
To  have  treated  directlv  with  him.  would  have 
been  to  expose  life  and  fortune.  Montagu 
ani  III:,  sister,  Herbert,  Algernon  Sidney,  and 
Baber  were  his  best  auxiliaries.  Mrs.  Harvey 
wa  bold  and  enterprising,  and  was  intimate 
with  numerous  courtiers  and  iw,  aibers  of 
Parliament.  She  recruited  Hampden^  and 
Haber — both  men  of  weight  in  the  Opposition. 
Algernon  Sidney,  Barrillon  reported  as  a  man 
of  great  views  and    designs,   which    all    made 

^  Nov  28,  1680.  ^  Dec.  5,  1680. 

^  Son  of  the  patriot  who  stood  out  against  Charles  I. 


244 


LOUISE  DE   KEROUALLE, 


f  r  t'lc  establishment  of  a    Republic.      He  be- 

kii^    i    tn    tiie   pa:t\      :    i  -     I  :;'lepenclents  and 

n^hnr    -"Ctrl'":::  :■-      w::?'    ^^MiTicd    aii     Uclurc    lin-n 
in   tht-  anti   Popish  disorders.      They    ..  ^  r^    n    i 

^;f-»*r,ri  -  'ti    Pnr1innT'"nr    !i"^  iT-pi-p   nowerf'^"'    ^n  tbr^ 

Cii\'  ;   and    iL   \\ni:5   '_nving  it*    Sidney's    rnarnt.;'"- 
rn-  nr    innn    I'   da  1  '    was  elected    *^neriff        liie 


^urvn^c^ 


'•^ 


i^.i.._. »    runucia'' :     ULnc    iiui    ap- 
nirnnt.   because   la     had     to  deal  with   obscnre 

■!■;'":■'    \';as    a    n':ciKi    ca 
ail.     :  nive,    pushinor,    and 


M 


ua 


ana 


;  ■  i  ' ! 


\'.  ana -a  u  * 


1  f '  ■ '  I 


;l-^      [ur 


.f  • 


r  na:e. 


He 


nftr"!!     brnr 

die    bdnaan 
twcf-n   Idir: 


111 
I'ani  -.1 


'H    nf    cn-rn,t     \nt 


^> 


1   t 


[")aber    wa^    a   ind^ 

Pr'"d;yterians.      I  ,.nnis 


{•n'::^dinn  W'-a!< 
to    prr\-rnt,    at 


a  ■  \ ' 


r  c  L  (J  a  c  a 


'I? 


1  I  e  was 

ai^a:    uf 


Lnnr^ 


T» 


L      i.  %,  *  l  '■■ 


;s 


probable  that 


i\ 


)f    la-:nu. 


n(aai!fr>   tnan  t*) 


nvnr^n^^^    r)t 


1 1 


ra  •    1 1 


heap'  r  t 


r;!  ^e 


des.      'Ti:t 


■s  ^  ■  ^  1  1  ■■  '  M      '  *  1 1  n  •  • '  ^      1   1  ?  "i         i 


I ; 


!68t,  wa:>    n(  a   ^ 


>;  r  _  h;     livtliell,  Sheriff  of  London   in   i68o,  and  the 
Shimei  of  Absalom  and  Achi^hophel. 


II 


\ 


\ 


SUNDERLAND  AND  SHAbTESBURY. 


245 


heavy   as   the   smallest    r^ubsid-    a* 

Hampden  and  Htaln/rt   r^,.-c(dvf:d  aooo  gumeas 


ic    kin<jf. 


eaca  ,    i  i^a_'^^r,     i  i  n 
1  )OSn(  )\v<. ■*]    and    „  \  : 


i    I  *     i    1  i  I   ■"  >..  1   ,  i  I  !  '   ; 


al)ar.   Hi!!. 
'   auineas 


5  Mnn  ;      i »'  ^n  n^ 


i    i  i  i ' 


I        i      i    ' 


1  urn 


,  ■'-'--  i  ^-^■■'^■^')^  vuarawaia  .^a<a,a.; v^n'ta:,  i  u.ca, 
ana  Hide,  300  guineas  ^acli  :  ora:  }  )ncro^,  resid- 
ing in    1  I-lstein,  a  ad  a  im-id  di'  Lord  n)cauu\ich, 

one  I.e  Pin,  a  clerk  .a'  a)anderland,   i  \u  nnaa-ab, 
*' who    sometiine's    eave    valuable 


n  i  n  !  < 


to 


ijaiun  Uu    \\  an  n    bpani^a  ao-ent.    too   'aa 

*  .  "^  a~-' 

alsci  '' ajr   huits  anii    !a:ivs;"  ana    1,000  eui]^-.;~> 


Louis    \\ 


-.  !' 


'  1      '  1'  ,    I 


obliL't 


to 


n  a,  t 


C3         ^  ^^'^t> 

^'\\  nroroaue  Parlianicnr",      He  knew  to 


!  t  \  -f  ^  ,  ■ 


by    pleasure, 

ia;cona%      Louis 


wh  u    degree   he    \va^. 

lUso  I  eared  a  ia:cuiiciiialiua  ^a^  nib  canann-^^a  1  ic 
starad  up,  therefore,  the  king  agaiii-i  die 
Caaiinuii^,  aia.!  egged  on  thi.  Canaa.4is  10 
a-i:rar-.:^   upou  the  king.      A;-  liu'  larca  a!  Oppo- 


*> 


av     in    the    most    iiaali-jMni    drotestant 


^  Sci  Les  Etats  de  Barrillon,  inserted  in  Affaires  Eijan- 
^erc^,  Angleierre,  tome  cxI.  fol.  33S,  and  tome  cxlii.  fol.  170, 
froiii  J  ^cc.  5  to  Feb.  13,  iCSi. 


246 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


r-'achci's   \\\\o    le^i 


l-iie,     I) 


'SS       t   I  i 


secLS.    iu:    ^uh\'efit.' ^iv -.1    tar 

t^ '  atia-a-:  Uv-  Crown. 

^ri-iia  ■:;ih    was   not    ai  the 
secrat     of   lia-;     Vx-->\yA-x\-v:\     aa^i      R-  a-ablican 

nn]ic\a  waaaii   waa-^    iH-jiia   waa"!    L^'a'^  ww--  rnm 
nianciiia    t^   aarsecute  la-.  i»\\a:    I'rijtestaiu    ^.ub- 
^a'ta  ^^hr    1  nvaa n*"''l    alie    wa^     a;t ■a'^na""'"    n'ni 

\\  ii-aa    >ai:    HiLil^uaLi  lu    ic^tuiu    Lial, 

Ciiarir-,,    and    a\.-    a-toaisheu     a  = 

■ '  a .        1  ■ ) 


I.  H  '_a  i  t  >     u  i 
\\    laa'-clf 


nta 


aou 


i    ■  > 


i         '  i,     V      !       i 


•-^  !  '    K    i  ^ 


i 'a>s\'  aa^.i    v  ar'^a;a''--,  :-ra'  ar^a'-ia^i'' 

1111  .  -  ,  , 

sru::    nail    oaaii    -laU    a    waiaan.;     ii-oai    r  rance, 

tiUit  Loui:-   wa^^   ia)i    sati-a^-a  vaai   laa'  cravliict, 

tuiii  taat  vat,  la?   uaj   aaa  M-.--aa(a"  waai  ara.aw  slie 

lia^l   d(.>nt^   her   utmost    to   r^^tat-r'   caaad    iat^jlH- 

o-ence   lj<.:t\vtjiai   tiia  kaa^^   ul    i-rdnct:   aiKi   Lnof- 

landa      ikit  l>anaa>M]    while  cicka^  ^"aacdeino- that 


i^ 


M\\    i 


cind 


\  -. ..  I  ^ 


la  a    saaaiii 


'  \ 


^ 


pffana'^ 


( i '  a\a  1  ta i  i     *  >!     la... 


la'    aaaaiat    laa' 


waiirua^'"    las  waix'    i>\ 


a  )rar  i  u 


» I  i  ■"-. 


aaaa;  ^.-A 


>»na,  liu\\aa.^^.aa  aia.'at''a   a^    ;.aaa^ 

iactic>.    caiiunat'a    In   tcii    ^aai    <  \-t  rMiUaa/"  and 


o 


caij    n^t   apaear   to    an -[v^rt    t 
1  Feb    2-,  1681.  2  / 


It    sun- 


t  28,  1681. 


SUNDERLAND  AND  SHAFTESBURY.        247 


plicity  with  which  he  opened  his  mind  to  Lord 
Montagu.  He  ofav(  a  this  n  iMeman  a  second 
bribe  of  2,odo  guineas,  and  .vas  soon  after, 
under  a  clumsy  pretext,  asked  for  i  thirdd  In- 
deed, ai  a  vacrue  ekicubration  a a\  ai  ■  a  cock- 
and-bull  rtavour,  ah  tagu  told  the  ambassador 
of  Louis  that  he  would  -nrai  be  able  t^  ran- 
dcr  hi^  dLijesty  the  King  ^a  kdance  services 
of  not  less  importance  than  thn.-  h^^  discharged 
when  the  interests  of  that  so\cia  01  demanded 
the  impeachment  of  1  )a!iby.  Hal 
bind  himsek  10  do  nothing  muio, 
entire  payment  were  not  guarant 
his  proposed  services  were,  a  o  o; 
because,  if  he  disclosed  di  lai  ar  ai 
would  ^^'^^:  tn  vppia  irivolcKis  ai  I 
the  Kincr  of  France.  Xavei  tiodess.  tiaa  a  0- 
of   a    nature  to  place   England    ai    a    ^hnation 

utiHzed 


la^    could 

idd    and 


, .. , . 


e.i    O)   sa\^, 

lurely,  he 
:  eyes    of 


which  would  iuno  uro\enL  uv  i  . 


o->  0 


On  findinor  that 


was    no    lo! 


n  ~  ro  1" 


as  a  secret  service  ageiiL,  Louise  de  k    loualle 
struck  up  a  friendship  with   the  Duke  of  ^h  ih. 


U   i  \ 


<\v'  had   a   oorc^^ntage  (ai    tia 
Q-ot  the  orrant,   \n    \  a  tue  e^ 
this    income,    confirmefl      Ma:   akc; 

1  Sept.  22,  1 68 1. 


1       r 


'■~i . 


and 
derived 


\  > 


248 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


(    ;  ;   ;  t 


ng,  and  with  the  other  oii  the 

1  H-^-  ^^f  ^^.^rk.  iii:,  brnth^r  Mc-an v..-!i;!.-  1  kirril- 
i^>'.i  ciiiu  intj  Pi.;.:t:  tn  u range  ^  worked,  each 
<~''T    n:-   rvAii    ])ehair,   the    House   of    (kMninons. 

>iUiiL'^:3ijury  aii.;  .U' -nniuutli  fanci'^ni  in-;\'  could 
t"-^'    HI    til'  .r    |.;ar;i-ans,    a;iu    u^-    K.-.ubhcans 

I'inuin^  hiin-i-:i  liiuible  to  deal   ..iiii  lii-.;  cu:]]- 
phcab'-;    \'.  ^-ij    iA    Liii':  -"ue    wo\'f"'n    arnnn.'-1    ]i*m 
^. iuUif/^    1  i,    NiiUiiii llclI    aiinseli   \wiiKu*i   i'c:>ur\'c 


to  Lo:;i'^  X  1  \ 


I  1 


■  i  ">    i  J  \ 


lus    dof'bty    ail   til-'    Fr-iudi   inone\-    liua,   came 


n.i  i   icd 


(c,K..;\-cu.    .uce  gone  on  losing  itseii    i:i  a  nniiiber 
ol  lif.'Civf a-..        i  Cf-  cacc  n;-^  ^■juaaiii ^.sidh  crocuccd, 
wai-    ^^Llddea   uiil    c^aaplete.      The    iJucheSb    of 
1'= 'r^--ca.'aui  ,^<,n.ai  r'/a.  r,  cred  her  seren*t\' r)^sia*r*t 
u  v.ai^^    uia-a-    uiis  lull   thai   .die   sumniuncd 


1  To  understand  to  what  extent  English  patriots  were 
( oirupted  by  the  Prince  of  Orange,  see  Ban illon  to  the 
king,  ]iwy  7,  laSi  :  ••  Ih^  i]^^i  ^^  ^,.j.^j^  (Duke  of  Hamil- 
ton's son)  has  i.  -:  }l:  accepted  the  500  guineas  which 
your  al  .jesty  peiaiatcd  me  to  offer  him,  because  he  wished 
first  decently  to  decline  offers  made  him  by  the  Prince  of 
Orange."  Perhaps  he  wanted  to  see  wlietlier  he  could  not 
get  more  out  of  the  Prince. 


I 


SUNDERLAND   AND   SHAFTESBURY. 


2^9 


to  London  Henri  Gascar,^  a  French  painter. 
Another  French  artist,  RanilMarv,  was  author- 
ized b}-  Louis  Ai\  ,  10  170  ajai  rxr^cute  at 
A\^ia  Isor-  paintings  which  ius  laaiann-  M.ijesty 

wished  h!!a  to  do.  No  mark  cf  confidence  and 
^^^---^cceai  vvas  spareei  in  na,,  Kai.^  ui' i- ranee, 
wno  \va^  ainaidy  preparin;;^-  t!ie  campai^'n  ia 
which  he  meani  lu  UiKc  Cuarlrax  aii  i  Lax-ai- 
bnurcr.  a!vl  wLo  wrolta,  by  bie  hand  of  \\\> 
secretar)^  Ku-^u  i^wnu  wai^  aathurized  h^  annate 
]iis  na  'ting,  so  thai  it  would  pass  Inr  in-  .\\\i.)- 
graph),  to  pron(n-  a  request  ninLia  in  liie  place 
<'i  Ciiarles,  he  would  i:.i\a^  a^'---r  -aiin--/  h 
was  to  a^k  t]i(^  K-ng  o:'  nin:dan-  t-  ov-'at  Ins 
authority  to  put  i  stop  to  the  ja  ^secution  kj{ 
Connt    Koenig-marck.^       Thia    allJr  throws    a 

1  Gascar,  born  in  Paris  in  1635,  died  in  Rome  in  1701. 
There  are  two  portraits  by  him  extant  of  the  Duchess  of 
Portsmouth.  One  represents  her  with  a  Portuguese  head- 
dress ;  the  other,  which  has  been  engraved,  shows  her 
defending  .'gainst  a  cupid  a  bird  that  is  in  her  lap.  Gascar 
]>ainted  aKo  Henriette  de  Keroualle.  The  oldest  portrait 
of  the  Duchess  is  by  Anthony  Cooper,  li  must  have  been 
done  soon  after  she  first  arrived  in  England,  Cooper  having 
died  in  1670.  There  are  also  portraits 'by  Kneller  and 
by  Lely.  Gascar's  is  at  Hampton,  and  Mignard's  at  Ken- 
sington. 2  Q^.f^  26,  1681. 

^  iBarrillon  to  Colbert  de  Croissy,  Nov.  24.  1670. 


250 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


str 


i  i 


■r> 


lish  manners  in  the  rei(jn 


of  Chn.r!.'-;  IT. 

I.;  !,    I'.lizabetl;    !     ;        dauijhter  of  the  last 

V.'x:\   ni    Xcrt'unnberiand,  li'i  1    i^    T:   married  at 

\:v  <xy'  ni  tw^'lvf^  h.)  Lur  i  <^ -^j:le,  an^i  was  a 
widow  ;:i  t!w  tollow  inj  \  ;ir  1  Lt  husband  was 
har-ih'  in  ti^^  ..:im\-'-  \\;un  >iu.:  was  abducted. 
t  -a!  I  r  liMlland  with  Lady  Tai- 
-lia-\'  iiaa  r^rnrtcd  her  !■.  j  x'acht 
lia^'d     [■  a-    !aa\       1  he     old 

••■1  ]->r  r]  n  II ,;]      ;;-|  n    J      (  '  1  T'      \'f)l;fn- 


.     ■  1  1  v.-        i  1  V  I  '  _  i 


pie,   aa^ 


t'  L         LM 


r 


_w.  ? .  ■  i  i  I  *" '  "^  '^ 


J    L  »  1  VV     i  >-^  I  <_'   S  5 


f  /    .  »->  -1   ■   ■    1-  >•  1   - 


.4'     X 


^   J 


1 


\\  iio  luu  1  aa  --taa 
he   was 


Tin  nne,^  '  f   Longleat, 

.     /'  I0,000  a   \'-.a'. 


1 ) . .  t 


n    no    la.^t* 


1  ' 


I    tat. 


1  \  i  .  y  \ 


Ivi  J 


she 

she  availed   herseii 


a;r  a  cogen;  r^^asoia  a^ 
i  ije.  Ladv  U-ic  was 
-  *  a  :ais  ;  and  a , 
i'  ceivcd  and  sold, 
»  ^^''et  the 


itaa 


it    i ' 


.^ 


,-(-1  -j  ^-. 


1,11 


T  ' 


I  r  V  J  a  1     i  a  \  a  a  ^ 


»»1  i  ■^  .■;? 


,id 


side     wiieri 


hi 


.^  U' 


t   v.,  L  I  U  .  L 


S 


^    ai'   at   L-;v-    t(  •   escape 
ir^_'/La^  appeared   at    licr 
^*\'e    evidence,    and 

■    ' '  aa"     \x  tjiu    buieainly 


1  i 


Hat    tia"-o    na.at;] 


•> 


Ta.,  , 


^   '['..-:  Issacb;  r    '!'  I  ^ryden's  Absalom  and  AchithopheL 
2  Barrillon  lo  i  ij    iving,  Affaires  Eiravgeres^  Afiglcic  ;r, 
tume  c\lvi.,  fol.  343. 


SUNDERLAND   AND  SHAFTESBURY. 


2;i 


beino^    in     L nralon, 


w 


(T 


along 


Pall  Mall,  at  seven  in  tiu    «  \c  ninor,  attacked  In 

"  ^  ^   '"  arm^'nl    mr^n,      On^^-   ''!   ih^xa    ari^a  at 
vaisket-balls,   which   c-najrcJ   iar>    hod\ 


n  !  n  '^ 


Count  de   Kcnn'a^ni: 


.,  ,.,a. 


■A,^" 


nne 


ui'  the   iiiarderers.      He  iiaa   aspired   to  niarrv 

i.  ^ 

Lady   Ogle/  and    wanted    lu    l)e    ax-nged    oa 

l/h\nnc    iur    snatchinor    har    aja       Tin-    Luaat 
wa .   the   lover     a'   Sophia    Da    thea,   Llectress 


ul     i1aao\- 
n ,.      \  \. : .. 

Lin      1  '  u(,    ^. 


t  '       ^■■,  ( 


i\:ia,ina 


ata 


tn< 


t  K  ,    i  .1 


iL  I 


Orleans,  ;^^   i^rnicess 

Itlactress    k.* 
correspondencn       la 

Kan:j  of  [o^ance  aui-ra^rv-]  to  >a\a"  an  a^-a-"!n. 
\\  ia.j a ;  a.  w  as,  once  Li iti t  i 1 1 o 1 1  iii  c » i  a  i .. ^  ■  1  i  va  10,1 
!ns  behalf,    impossible  to   liam:'.      d'ia"   la'o. 


•  \ 


S( 


I ;  I  i 


was    so 


.aiaia'wa    in     tn.: 


General  taaa  though  in 

if    euilt   WR^ 


1  -■■> 


no   prooi 

acquitted.       The    heiress   wno, 

fon^'tof-n,  was  twice  widow  =  a,  !' 
[  when  she  was  :^na 


L  i.  .  V.  v_=^i  , 


•1    4,     H.,  t     i     i 


(ai-n    uaalt}', 
.aal    lie    was 


a. 


I  ;  V  •  , 


i  '.„   I 


iifteen. 


1  Swift,  in  doggerel  verse,  accused  her  f  complici-  '  1 
Thynne's  murder.  She  avenged  herself  by,  on  her  knees, 
imploring  Quewi  Anne  not  to  give  him  a  bishopric. 
That  dull  but  amiable  monarch  said,  a  good  man  could  not 
have  such  a  bitter  enemy,  and  refused  the  see  to  Swift. 
{Trans /a tors  Note.) 


\ 


252 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE 


The  cS''AXV\  ''I  1.^^..;^  \\-a:.  a.ccr»:n:  ilished.  1  h- 
ii''i(_i  I: !'i;4'./iiie  Ml  L.]':  \-e  ■ ' '  W'-  -:.,{■{  w<-^\v''n  round 
i^:r.  Ciiarie-.  ijccaiiu-  ina't:  ane  more  attached 
to      ii:>     r-\'en-teni:^'orod     mi -tress,     wo')       ]i:id 

\\"f 'illil' 'rt::0       out       WiUi       ililil      lUO     StOl'lil     (j!       UlC 

lU'    hencefoih  of  exer- 


?»".•,  1 


(' '  ^'  '1   '     U  I '  O  '  ^O  '! 

Oart\'  cina   \ 


!    :> 


or 


i leaded  the  Vv'-wch 


.'^      Lis. 


1  ; .  !  i  1 '  '  = 


i'-    :_  O  !  ■'    : 


t  ho 


[H 


C3 


1'  iMnct:   ...ma    li 
C(,>IlIui^:IlC'•  III  her   iDfcc,  liui"  '^h('  did  lO/i   i^ar  to 

It  had    i^'-fjii    lior  dearr-^t    w'-a:   tn  r^tar 
l;"rench    Court,    the   bCena  ol    '^     "  ' 


1    0)  tae 


atirjns,    to    biiHir    ta^a'a   a^^    tlv    ni\-*ainte   or    i:;** 


s 


Ivni;^'  oi  hai^iana.  .^aa  ua:^a>-^i  oi  icii  ij)U!s 
o\'  Word  i.A  niuatii  aa  ;die  had  dna^-  t^  reduce 
taa  laati^ai  railajii  t^)  ij"  tlO'  -.ai-hii^:  ^-1  h  ranee, 
and  to  a  btata  ui  ti arable  subjection.  liie 
jH/riod  iji  iier  \a-a.  to  hhraa..'-  was  ono  of 
spltaahid  triaaiaa  aiur  ^^raiUied  pride.  r^ac 
traanphcd    ai     oa-    aa^-t   hiaiHai^t   Court    hi    lap 


w'i  ua  r ,  aaii  ai nua 


,  aiJ:^e 


wao)   aa..: 


rnitaacai  1"  reaica    laci 

hnowai   har  pO'U-,  h amble,  rarl    i,/;.- 


les 


u 


pon. 


RETURN  TO  FRANCE. 


Co  \RT.F^    aiai    aa^    I  hjaao'^s   o: 
irirat*:-.  1    Irom   caaii   utraa'    l'..  *i' 


L  i  ■ 


lji'\ 


Of    ai  u  laa'! 


!  6^2,  th'?   k] 


I]-''   u'omo' 


C'!  'aatior       ]  h.:t  hafnr^  '~^' 


I  i? 


tn  ma*   iUiiive 

ir  a<    C')  '"P- 


■t    r,nt     Kill''     w -"5  <    C":  "> 


lul  tu/   draw  ni  ad\~ 


.iruo"    I  as '  aacU'ter  oi   la/r  ;  - -a 


01 


sion    \v!aaa    was  to   laH    cia^^   at   tiio    (aia 


i  i  i  LU 1 1 1 1 .  ..-n  i  o     I  i  i  u  1 1„  u  V  «^  i 


"i 


I(:'ttsws  from  tile  K'l 


1  a    '•  -   '      i  ..  i  I  ,. '  1  ( I  i  1 V  i     i  i.  i  J  V  I      i  • ._  i  ;   I   ; 


to  LOS.  a  a.  ia/r  tia.,,-  favour  cenoyoJ  h)' tia;  h^haa,'SS 
of   Ca,'\^'lar!a,    ai   \h 


awaau'"-',  laaiaax"  l 
warn    ^ao    aaait    t 
ij  J   I  la  •    (iiu  -(aa"      ^lie    <ii:-i  > 


"1  f  • 


'  .■  y  /  •  ' 


a    In 


lOi 


!h:    a a~ 


?  •  --f 


S  ,  I   \    1   '  I 


o ,  n  "> 


and  (  ia.u'i 


^.   o^      Villi      i  I  *    •  i.      -'"'^  i  1  t    ,i  i  i  T' 


irtun  sr^^uiKaia'  aooiii  i 


t  1  H  i  J  t  >  1  "* 


f '        *  a        3 

i )ai  I  in*  sa 


"^    M^'>]a,'\   A-r  sc<a-..-t  -^i'r\  Mas.  f^sl.  C^. 
'  March  5,  i6a:' 

^  Barrillon  to  King  Louis,  Marcli  i 

253 


I  082. 


^3+ 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


'    lie    i.a:^    charged    me    to    supplicaij    }Our 

(a  ian  \  a'ivate  attnjr-  a^   ' 

i  aa.  ersalion    to   an    :  a^  x 


^    !      -    ?   ■ 


-  abject, 


W  ilr 


•'    ^no;a 


"   f   '  !  ■  \  » 


/a  n- 


]c>t\'  ^aa, > 


a  wiiiairaa    li^e  domain  oi    .\uhig-iiy 

from  thi:  l/ruuai  u^  ^:-\'f  i:  m  l^cr.      liai    i   ::au!o 
liiin   a   'a   tiiat    \i..r    Maiest\     a  ould   orive   her 


1  -^ ,     L  I  - .  L  t      r-iil. 

a'ix'cn  111*/  na 
iniun!aiia.ai. 
ivna,'iara  i  w  : 
tr/rr-a--,      Ti- 


a^   :Diaj\\ii    ^r^  uil,  cua^^Li^iiii,  dia^i    \i\ 
hjr   \^aa-    ?\La'--!,\-'s    iat^  roasts,  a.a  i 


i  iC:^"^ 


;-v-tul   hint<  aa-1  pieces  of 


^~>lie 


'\ 


He     Jvuia    yA 


I* 


(nemies  <  : 


che^ 


^N  i 


1^  ^ris- 


lanuia    ;^  :\a:^  ovX   mai   ^-^at*  is 


a'niH'^''  to  a  iMiv^''  to 


Th-  Da-?heRS  ^^mbarkcc!  at  Crrvaiwi':^!!  on 
buar/i  ci  Xiivail,  uai-l  \\,a~>  ixlUal  up  purpo:^ai\  lui" 
her.  and   laada  1  at   i  n-a-ue.''     She  was  received 

u^  ci  S(i\'<aa/ian  al  Liic    1' raii>_.i  ^-^uuri  a'ai   aixaUaa 

'It        -^  t  (      \,     \\i  \    -  ^  '  ■  , 


)     a 


1 

l  a 


/  , 


\  I. '  ^a*     Li. 


'  i  ina  :i  said,  ai  iacppe  ;  Godolphin  said,  at  Calais. 
See  Goduipiiia  a*  ijuibirode,  in  a  letter  preserved  at  Keele 
Hall  by  ':      K   \    ^'^'   Sneyd. 

2  See  correspondence  of  Preston,  the  English  ambassador 

to  Lu.a^  :\1\'.,  wii.^a  i-  .a  Xetherby  Hall. 


RETURN   TO  FRANCE. 


255 


inn^riu  LUailes  of  her  uauaipi  al  reception,  and 

he    h,i-naa-n    to    .aaan-ss    tu     Tajuis    "li!>    best 


t 


ui'  uic  kin^ 


\\  i\   i<  >   na ' 


i  n.ahess  of  Ibalnra  ^a; 
"   1  in  re   has    never 

tr.Mtia^aU    she    vwri-. 


'»^, 


.       T 


w  1 1  ness. 


\  \  a* 


^n  a  niijii  uulidaAa  ^nc  went 


ta  \a-n  na:  LapaLines  ni  ni'-  Ka--  "p.  !  lonore, 
thr  r'onp  monk-.  \vin>  \\a,,aa,:  told  bch  a/'linnM  of 
her  inieniionj  canic  unt  proLc^rnuncil])-  Uj  re- 
cei\'t'  liaia  \vlt:i  crr)KS.  lio]\-  wnt^aa  :\".\^  nun-ai-a. 
The\  i^'i_ai\aa  h(.a" 
queen,  and    iina,na    ina," 


..ial  i.ib  U    Sin:  i'Klcl     Uia. 


11 


(av!  K-i,aaio-  so   niiuni 


.■=> 


\. 


n.P 


i"-'    '■'''-     '-^'^ 
she  spent  sorn 


an    m 

a.    nan]),    hn,«.; 

.  ♦- 

Uii  tin..:    ant" 

:    oi 

-a -a    na- 

An]d.:u\    nr; 

.  -;-<  ' 

a  .  ■'  ■■■■-  -  ■;  i  '  ^- ,  • 

^-.  h  /  '•      \\ -   =  -..    !  ■  >    ; 

■     ■     ■    * 

th 


,  V 


(.:  W'.i 


J , 


U        1  J  ^ 


l,  u 


Kin    ni    tan,'    n]a.!(,.nt"   i.^ 


s  I  .  I  ',. 


"\    T 


Conntr^^-;  I 'I    ki.arna'' 
three  weeks,  ann    i 
tow  lids  the  middk:  ui 
Ikauany.    She  showa  d  hn 

]:nrr 


i  \  ■  t  ■ 


'  r  s  p  f  I 


'  n 


-rcr 


.ir 


aiK 


C   nrt  a  month 

DusieP    iicrbUii    n  n. n    iii\c:riiiaj'    ilie 


^  Ea'its  inedits  de  St.  Simon^  t  ir  ]i    a'^r 
2  See  the  Preston  correspondence,  at  a  nJierby  Hall  and 
at  Keelc  IL   ;. 


256 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


fortune   which    she    had  amassed    in    Knoland. 

it    wn^    'i^-al   at    th-    ■pno-li^,'i    C.-r.n    i 


\^ 


i  1   1  <_■  !  iL 


lil  1  '    )1    f   ■  i 


^t  'CUi'il.C:-*. 


York    tru-t 


!  -    ■      t  •-\  ,   ,  >-'      i 


whose  deatii 


1  (  i  ->  ( 


"!    r  !■( 


'1   r    ■       \\' 


.{  r6o,ooo  to 
't.^  o!i  i-.L/hino-  of 
-  Ill  :(.:  (  MHcerned.  Barrillon 
\n    lodcre    \vu\    monr-i'    in    ;:i 


die 


f  ni;  rums,   in    t^ie  name 


iH' 


( 


1  i  I  i  '    ■ 
1         o 


i         «-        t    I  I  ;   1 


^ 


''''-  --  '-'1    LuLii.^u  ivcruL.alle 
it^  r  'flex  action  '-i  I.ond'.n   v.  hen 

uH.-ared    ih-r-  ai   liic  uiid   of' July,  1682. 

usiy,"     n  ui-illon 

'aa^^e.      She  a  ad 


i  t  •„  I 


T1  t 


1 


treated  lu 


1  • 


i i i a  u  a  u,i ;  1 1  \   ana 


sa 


tiaj    In.ikc 


ui 


>  a>  '■ 


V  *  ■'' 


sa*  iiv t  *  s 


I  f  »       I  ri 


(  iM 


d'^  Xf  \ 


■  1 »!  1 1 


Cu\ 


7  !  i 


-d  rha  ( 


1  ■ !  u  ; ,  i ,,  i  L  ^  * ,  f  1  a 

^       t  a    nunia^e  paid 

k^   -arisldne,  gilding 

i'     iiu    uJjject."       Tt 

i'al  ;   and   tia-  (ij/'d 
fat,':-,    traaa^    no    Irai  ^^a'    ^aw     h*-f'     Jm-.  ...n',. ,■.*•:,  ..^^ 

Mer  pow-r  becana-  !ncont--aaJv  \  ark  ;a-r  cool- 
ness ()\  i\'i\x^x  ,ina  aa:-'a.juaa'  a^- \t'-:-"Mi^qnoss 
^^■"■ni   t-   aav'*    k--a   favoiiraiu)-  judged    a=a  die 

^   Barrillon  to  Colb'i  a   M       f;    r')82. 

'  Jul)    -:a    r  -.  3  Oct.  18,  1682. 


& 


RETURN  TO   FRANCE. 


257 


political  men  in  France,  ha    kia  a>  himself  sent 

k'i-  waaaj   diat   la/  ia.a    la-  lullcr^t  conlidence  ki 


lajf 


i  i  1  '■      lit,         V  I 


i    /. 


)!naaLa 


d  so  k.ai 


c^ 


.  1      i  , 


1 1. 1 1  i  i . 


tlioiaau  it  was  du- 


c '. ) 


v^  •-.  M  1 .  ■"'  L  i  i  4. 


\aian 


o 


o 


^e 


i  le 


aa'.  and  that  th^TC  was  to  be 


r\o  suspicious 


hang-ing-  back  from  an 


•C>"';3 


\    hcLSj    aaii 


ae  recom- 


mended.     It    b-canir"    dangeroiis    to    cr 


the 


P 


U 1      I  i  i  L,      \\  '-J 


lU i  \\aia  waiD  lu  ai_  iajiiceiortil 
the  link  betweeai  two  kings  of  great  nations. 
The  Dutch  minister,  Vanbeunemyraa  k  anicd  lo 
his  cost  how  ill-advised  he  was  t  ;  ;  tand  in 
her  way.  He  thought  well  to  eall  attention 
to  her  familiarii)  with  Barrilloii,  vdiose  access 
to  hrr  at  ak  ia^ars  showed  a  corakaaice  and 
a  close  iauau,i^\  which  couki  laa-ki-v'  lak  to 
give  umbrage  to  the  Kin  ;•  of  Fn  viand's  allies. 
Louise  i-joi^  offence  at  his  remark,  an^i  com- 
plained tn  tiie  king  of  his  want  of  respect  for 
her.  Vaubeuneno-en  offered  lurrnallv  i  >  bee 
her  pardon,  and  to  give  her  any  expla  a  tion 
th  a  would  show  how^  far  he  was  !ra:a  ai  aing 
to  oftend  a  lady  for  whom  his  Britannic  Majesty 
showed   such  o;reat  reijard.      iic  was  evaa  will- 

^  Oct.  20,  16S2. 

s 


258 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLH, 


;:M    ^^'    r;^"    ^''    th^    roonii      t    the    Duchess   at 

\\  ilI^•!iail  and  t>  ^  apologir.*-  liirrc. 

I  ii'.-^  MiHjcii  !a  r-'/.i  niMi^^cJ  IKT  ladies  U)  be 
dfjcrciitial  tow  ird:^  tia'  ia\ajiirit'.a  ()ne  of 
Catlajiaiir's  maids  of  iioiiour,  rdidis  Toniplf,' 
had   the   boldne-s   to   >!)*ak   ill   of  tiio    Diadio 


:hb 


boioro  Lad\-  (oMiwaw  who  nicanl\'  and  hiini- 
bl}'  ran  on  to  donMimct'  her.  The  nuidi'S--. 
wno  had  the  Laii  <  >t  tr'ar>,  wept  and  coin[uained 
to  the  (jiieen,  \\lio  dei>ri\-ed  ^Ii^^.  dd-nipit-  kA  a 
(quarter's  saair\'. 

I  iie  I)acae:3:5  abi/.a"ai  wa^-  t^x*  nb^rrx-ani  tt) 
renuuii  una*  ai^cif  )Un  ')t  th"  naaadian  la-ieiit  i<j 
wiiicn  1 


.<  'U;-)l.  :3 


-■J^h   a   ;^^H'd  ^race   t<  >  a  secondar\-  rank  ni  the 

^'-■i'-^i^^a.         She    souo'lit    a     rriniOf  ■la-ation     *n     1 


W't  *[e  • 


epaaaaain 


witn    i)ersons   wi    eas\-   murals,       i  .hjiv 

^^'dy  tv.!.^  things  wideli  (U>tnr])ed  her 
serenity.  Her  inccar^'  wa-.  iiul 
^•q^-^'  tu  ia-r  eatoaises  ;  and.  !aa'  hu-'aiai  n.,t\a]uy 
wainUraWii  ner  pen:Diun,  c^he   de|"aid?-d   entn;'-iv 


)n  Cliarie-^' 
^r':ierrira 
tni;    exi  )*,/n:>L:   ^  -A    : nana . ; 


s  generos;t\- 

tian      \b 


1  .e."    i\an 


t ' , 


HI 


iau\  , 


t  h 


a '    1  \  •  ■  e  ' 


^    Ixtter 
dated,  Oct. 


1   Verney's  possession  at  Ckiydon  House, 


RETURN   TO  FRANCE. 


2^9 


I 


^'i    1  ranee  was  again  pressed    ij  make  him  orive 

her  an  annnitv.      Charles  snaieaaited  iLa-ird-n' 


L< 


o   toil    iii^   in.,i:3Ler   wrait  cUi  tHjiaaai 


t  s:  i 


conHa-  on    h'aa    if   he   extaaed   \\\>  a.aa-ra\-   in 


behah  ol  liif,;  k)acia.!ss  i\kiza.r;]a  wrr*  had  ra  a. 
recei\-ed  :\i\\  rendtiance  lor  iwx)  \</ars  fnaii 
h  ranee.  Siuj  ahnnst  sunukane  )iisl\-  a--art-vl  die 
and)a:-,^nu.k)r  that  she  had  not  era\'?-d  tia-  ^o^-a 
OHiei/'S  oi  i.hara:s,  iiecausc^  sla*  jdaaed  ,ia  ia-r 
ho|)es  in  lia.'  boant\"  arul  [jrotectioii  of  k.i)ai>. 

\-i\^'-    other  cause  of  tnande   to   th^-    Daalass 
iNkizarni,  wer^  tin,:  im[jortimitie 


C3 


i\'    r*'taniro    an 


i  c  i  i 


^^iaj    so    wa'ea,b.aaai 

wauca  :^ae  wa-^  ;ain.fu.  uait  iaa- >aLaalion  ol  ka:a'':> 


mistress   did    ih^i    ai-i)in-    aavr,    (  k-    erevent   her 

Iroiii    beino-    ili,-    ,i\>\,xx    <a    na:    most    rom.aiuc 
and  iriir^iori.tte  adoratnea      An^'r  the   Tkxace  of 


.  o  u ; 


her 


two  da\'s 


"1  ^  •  i  v 


up- 


-til  O/l 


a   t\\  f   \ears,  absorbed  ai 
liie    id  rtnoruese    A^ascon- 


cellos,^    who    did    not    see    that    die    blindness 

nan   an  obioct    of"  ridicule — 


Ol   his  ]o\'e   niad 
after    Mvaiia 


"c^      > 


v\aa.)  ra.oaec 


u  a  ajr  i.er  sake  the 


*■  J; 


iFeb.  9,  1682 

2  Dom   Luis  de  Vasoncellos  y  Souza,  who  had   been  in 
London  from  1667. 


:6o 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE 


poiiLcal   Intrigues  un    i:ie  success  ui 

.ircd    am 


1     1. 


1        1 

n  f  •  ■ )   ' 


.  .:      i    ( 


■  L  \.  t.  t  V  V  -       i.  i  1   A  .  ' 

L  i 

[■  reiiL;;;;:an,     hi/r     own 


I  ..  ,  '  I  •  ■ 


H  » : 


1    ;     ■ ■ 


r  ■?' 


ixf  -ri.). 


I  n 


x'ol.:  ;■  '■ 


l*:r  S     >i  )[],      W  Ihj 


iL 

i -^  L  .:v:\\iiUjr  do  S()i>-oiis.  hctu.r  knuwii  do 
PririCc  Eugene  do  Sci\'(,)\"-Cari^'nan,  canaf,^  to 
London  and  lei!  in  !u\o  wiUi  ins  aunt.  Haron 
de  Dainor.  son  of  one  of  tlic  generals  of  Gusta- 
vus  Adolphus,  was  al-o  captivated  b\'  licr. 
riie\-  iiad  botli  attracted  attontion  |j\-  tlu-ir 
hectoring  airs  and  tlio  L:rcat  lonnui  of  tlioir 
bworeir^,  winch  dra--od  on  tho  pa\cniont  a:-. 
^*^e\'  -:rodo  along.  1  ho\'  ^row  joaiou-.  of  eacii 
other,  and  ion^iu  a  ou'-l  in  wiiicii  Hain^-r  was 
1  no  conduit  ann:-^d  vm:  Court  of  \^v^ 


■  1 


hanios/^  \'''-\>-rr 


\  .   i  i  O  0-„     II. 


e\'cs  C'\   a    arari: 


..a^uob  w^^Miaorou  ai  in 
doing   snr-   execute  n 


M.LL[..mQ  anwi.u.n,  when  i  mice  Eugene  killed 
de  Bainer  wn^,  tin-  mother  of  a  son  and  three 
gruwa-up  daughn  r^.  The  second  daughter 
wu;.    :\bbess  of  [. ,        n--    \  oungest  had  m.nried 

tne  nLn'nm^  llo  D-llefonts  in  i68i  ,  .md  the 
euu  ri,  ..em  in-  nun  r  wanted,  in  spite  of  her 
a\'ersion    to  a  religions   lifre  tn  ta-o'  the  veil    f^ot 

^  le   Sevigne,  Nov.  26,  1684. 


h 


RETURN   TO  FRANCE, 


261 


the  Marquis  de  Richelieu  to  run  awa\'  with  her 


ir-ni  m-  (.. 
ana  n  n -;  > 
elsewien'e,    w 


nU.a, 


;   i  i  1    V  1  I   I  i  i  i 


I    oi     ol^'.     AKnie    ol     L. 

I  O    't    '  U    L  ^      ■     .'.     :   I   .  .•  >  .  I  e       I  a   1       V  I 


tne    \'oun: 


lio  V  >    n i  I  i 


connnnn 


an  eUvS    anii     i  )tiii 


weis 


o  (  ■  n      ' )  r 


Grenoiain  la  ld*.ip|je,  ani!  An^'']">,  n^  ti^  vdietiaT 
he  siiouid  consent  to  tla.'  nn:nnww-o  of  tla:^ 
fugitive's.  l)oth  tannlics  were  for  hating  th(mi 
get  married.  Ihit  the  Duke  i\Iazarin  went  on 
askinu;  theoloc'ical  consultations  ;  and  tlie  run-- 
awav  cotinle  we>uldi  have  been  oijlin'ecl  to  n'o  on 
as  lovia"  and  mistress,  if  tiie  king  had  not  intr;r- 
ieredd      At  the   end   oi   two    xaea'^   tin!   >rrui)n- 


1  «,_/  I  S 


IS  ~^ 


\'    Dioas     iathor    was     forcal     to    nive    his 


con-^i-nt  10   marnnno. 


but  siieiwr'd    Id 


nw  r^eeciar 


by    rei  n-^nv;    to    gwn:^    a    dr^wiw    (>t 
-oo.ooof      File  k'na  sijncd  r.  n:n^.!( 


T  1  ; 


o    tiian 

^n  the   hfst 


ev^er  uranted  leu"  iiu.:  abuuelion  at  a  ncnee:'  from 
her  convent.^  Hut  the  jvikits  of  \v']A  iib^'ni\' 
contru.cted  wh^n  ;d]-  w.r-  an,  oiiliaw  pre\'ornj.^J 
.     do    Richeiiend    w  n<-    from    <ettlin^    il^rxn 


A 


qni'^o-.'.      ii'  '    nuo^anrl,  fora'anng  h«^w   ho    ;nid 
Lai    ill  her  to  u^e  ^aaihn-dnener-.^  eioirmed  inn"  m 


ijan.  T683. 

-  IrvNGEAU,  Sept.  5,  and  Oct.  17,  16S4. 


2^2 


LOUISE 


i  1 1 


f:i.IWUALLE 


i  1  i 


1. 


I  i        H    ^  1  1         j  1 


i  ii*  • 


1 


U  1  I'   Ml 


nl 


la'-fMH 


T    1  ■  /    ,  ! 

i  I  1  '  i 


WiiiCll    nIk 


.i\\  .i\  ,   i  >\'  (  liirii  lii 


(>\'''V  till'  wall/ 

1  iif-   m^'tn^T  was   in(»rn!a'«]   at    laa"  daii-htia-'s 
afhaaitiii-''^  and   at    Prina<-    iui  •<■!)' ■'■,  (!ur|       She 
ta]kc(l  oi  cnila-arni-  a  (  oiucntnal  lil<-,  aixl  oT  Ik  i' 
sa!utar\'    saijiicss    and    divju^l   wiili    cvcrv  tliiri". 
Saint    li\  rcniond,    in    (*I<a'antl\    Imiicd   stan/as 
pamt'-d    Iv'V  hiack    nv-LuKhoK  ^    iVoni  which   she 
cvcntuall)'    fouiul    a    solacr    in    (ha'nk.        Alcan- 
wliilc   thr  pas-^ion    for    <^Mm1)h'nL^    took    posa-s^ 
siun    ol   her,  and   w.is  a  caus"  of  cha-'i-in  lo   her 
poetic  adorer,  wlio  speaks  of   10S2,  as   the   vcar 
in  whicli  tlie   preponderance   of  the    I  )uchess  of 
Port^nioiitli   became   dehnitive,   and    li(a'    rival's 
kna:  lor  basset  _L(ot  to  an  inc an-abk-  h(a*L;ht.      She 
parsed   her   nii^hts  at  the  carcbtabk-,  where  she 
lield   the   bank,  and  Un'j^oi  Maurice  her  ]>urfoon, 
C1io[j   ha:r   do_c(,    Pussy  her  cat,  and    Pretty   lier 
parrot.      Of  Roman  origin,  she  was  accaised   of 
anci<ait  Roman  vices,  which  she   mixed  up  with 
modern  French   and    luiidish  moch:s  of  sinnin'j. 
In     tlie     davtimc,    she     searche-d    fcjr    Oriental 
curio.^ilie--.   in  the  ships  that   liad   fre^jdy  arrived 
from   India.      At   Newmarket,   she   was  up  and 

1  Dam  a  AC,  A|-ri:   t,  i  703 


i 


A'AVY/AW    'JO   FRANCE. 


263 


^aa    oil  ho!'',i  a  .,  i(  \s ,  at    h\'("  !;i  !!;<•    iniaaiifV'"       1  )\i 
rat  \i\-\  A,\\  ■,    \  \\iVi-  wx  \r  I  h<-    <■  \.  ih  na  iil-,  *  .1    1  m  t 
'•ni-.  and    <»j    heln";    Jo'al.d    in    (la*    (ro\\(i  which 
''U'Ja  d    to    ',(•(•    the    he)i";,e;,    Oil     ihe    coai.r.       In 
the    ev<aiin;'    l]i«a-c    was    the    llaal'/e    and    Sh.ik 
spf-aro's    pl.i\s,    wkn<  h,    as    w<  T    .r,    ih<-     kaadch 
dr. una   of    the    p<aio<k    Sanil    k  \  r<  niond    th(»ii'ahl 
Ledioir,.       .Mt(a'    tho    pla\'   eam<'    tla'oyarr  sup 
p<'i',    .iiid    then     bas,(t.       ,\bidame    .\bi/aiin    had 
at     Newinark^a     Ina-     rei-ulai-    conil     of    ladies. 
Resides      Lady      Har\'-v,      she      was      walched 
wilh   admiration  by   i\bid'anoisclle    l>cv<a-\va-<-rt 
Nassau,'  whom  she  called    Rotle,  and    em[)loyed 
to      serve    at     lier     toiktto.       The     other     kiii 
lollow(a"s    W(a-e    .\b'sd«  inois<-ll<  s    (!<•    Hra"<-|on'- 
OiaanCr,  and  de  la    Ro<  h<'LMnllie!n,  the   novelist. 
I  his   _i;roup  of    wonnai  did  not  att< mpt  to  cross 
ihe    path     ol     Roin'se    de     K(aouall<*    after    lier 
r<Iuin    liom    PiMnce.       I  b-r   pow<'r   was    thence- 
iorth  imdispiit'al  and  indi;.piitable. 

'  I  );im;'1i1'T    i,\    I'liii'c    Loin:,    ol    N.i  )',aii^  t  Ijc    jitilcli    am 
h;i  .'..nlot   to  Wijih  li.ill. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

EXD    OF    THE    REIGN 

The  Duchess  of  Portsmouth  also  held  gam- 
bhng  tables  and  a  bank  in  her  rooms.  But  the 
excitement  of  cards  did  not  entirely  absorb  her. 
She  pia\'ed  at  the  more  dangerous  pastime — 
amorous  intrigue  with  Philippe  de  Vendome, 
Grand  Prior  of  France. 

This     French     nobleman     was    erandson    of 

Henri    IV.   and  la    Belle   Gabrielle,  and  son  of 

the    Duke    de    Vendome    and    Laura    ?ylancini, 

sister  of  the    Duchess    Mazarin.      He  came  to 

London    in    16S3,    when   he   was   twenty-ei^>-ht, 

had  a  bright  wit,  was  singularly  handsome,   but 

did  not  pass  for  being  brave.      He  slipped  out 

of  a  duel   about  the    Duchess  de    Ludre   with 

M.    de   Vivonne  by   ridin^:'  off  to  the  country 

and  slid   out  of  the  army   on   the   eve    of  the 

battle    in    which    Turenne    w^as    killed.       This 

descendant    of    Henri    IV.    was    received    and 

retained  in   London  by  the  Duchess  of  Ports- 

264 


1. 


» 


EXD    OF    THE   REETX. 


~    3 


mouth   with  a  tenderness  so  undisguised  as  to 
excite  the  raillery  of  the  whole  Court. 

The  watchful  and  crafty  Barrillon  did  not 
like  this.^  He  saw^  that  the  kini:  took  um- 
brage  at  Louise's  fondness  for  the  Grand  Prior, 
and  that  now  and  then  he  showed  himself 
suspicious  and  ilbhiimoured  about  him.  But 
these  fits  did  not  last  long.  Prudence  should 
have  made  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth  order 
the  Grand  Prior  to  return  to  France.  But  she 
w^as  so  happy  to  have  him  with  her  that  none 
of  her  friends  had  the  courage  to  tell  her  what 
she  ought  to  do.  To  advise  her  to  separate 
trom  de  Vendome  w^ould  have  displeased  her. 
Sunderland  feared  that  the  king's  suspicions 
w^ould  become  angry  convictions,  and  bring  on 
a  rupture.  Nevertheless,  although  she  did  not 
banish  the  Grand  Prior,  she  continued  to  find 
favour  in  the  eyes  of  Charles.-  The  leading 
ministers  kept  in  close  intimacy  with  her. 
Her  enemies  were  alert  to  do  her  mischief,  but 
she  w^as  no  less  so  to  defeat  their  mali^'nitw 
Sunderland,  in  spite  of  the  fears  he  expressed 
to   Barrillon,    took   care  to  be    on    oood   terms 

^   Earrillon  to  Louis,  June  17,  1633. 
2  Eoid.^  Ji-ine  28,  1683. 


f 


.rr. 


LOrisE    HE   KEROrALI.E. 


with  M.  de  Veiidome,  whom  he  asked  to  dine 
at  his  house.  The  suspicions  that  Louise  was 
playing  the  wanton  with  her  countryman,  did 
not  prevent  Louis  from  keeping  up  with  her 
an  autograph  correspondence,  and  charging 
TiHadet,  his  Lieutenant-General  and  Ca['tain 
of  his  Cent  Suisses,  when  he  sent  him  on  a 
mission  to  Charles,  ''  to  remain  in  constant 
relations  with  ^Madame  de  Portsmoutli."  ^ 

That  envoy  informed  the  VJwv^  of  LVance'" 
that,  on  reaching  London,  he  called  on  the 
favourite,  and  informed  her  that  he  had  been 
ordered  to  tell  her  in  what  hi'-ii  re-'ard  his 
Majesty  held  her,  and  to  assure  her  that  he 
desired  to  give  her  proofs  of  his  friendship  in 
all  sorts  of  occasions.  She  received  the  mes- 
sage with  signs  oi  the  deepest  respc'ct,  and 
pra)'ed  the  Lieutenant-General  to  sa\-  to  his 
^Liiestx'  how  unfortunate  she  esteemed  herself 
in  not  Iiax'ing  been  so  tar  al)le  to  prove  to  him 
her  Lrratitudt\  and  Imw  sorrx'  she  was  that  his 
Majer^t}'  had  been  obliged  to  contt.:nt  himself 
with  L'ood  intentions  onlv. 


UIV 


^j,   n-^  ^  tcin 


C    ( 


-  Aut.-i 


I  j'i 


iCiiC!      (j! 


..    tMl.     124. 


',  .  l^f'iir' :,  I-Jfiin- 


'cTzi 


,  .-//,'.:/:  .-7  ;v.  I'jW 


iiC    ( 


:u;.   v-^y. 


EXD    OF    THE   REICX. 


■r,- 


Charles  beheld,  with  no  unmoved  counte- 
nance, the  Grand  Prior's  visits.  Not  that  he 
dared  voluntarily  to  show  his  displeasure.  His 
will  was  flaccid,  and  he  was  too  conscious  of 
that  limp  state  which  throws  worn-out  epi- 
cureans under  the  domination  of  their  mis- 
tresses. He,  however,  tried  by  peaceable 
means  to  c:et  rid  of  \'end6me's  odious  ])resence. 

To  this  end  he  asked  Barrillon,  through 
Sunderland,  to  forbid  the  Grand  Prior  to  visit 
the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth,  in  whose  rooms 
the  grandson  of  Henri  W.  and  the  Ik-autiful 
Gabrielle  did  not  appear  for  four  or  five  daNs."^ 
But  this  absence  made  her  irresistildv  attrac- 
tive  to  him,  and  he  renewed  his  attentions. 
The  kin^",  finding  this  out,  thought  it  a  reason 
for  expelling  the  Grand  Prior  from  b^ngland. 
Barrillon  undertook  to  break  to  him  Charles's 
intention  in  the  gentlest  wa\'  possilde,  and 
thouelit  to  make  liim  go  awav  (luietlw  kbat 
I\L  de  \'end<^me  declared   he   would   on]\-  leave 


wlieii  tile  ^^-ni-- 


i\  i  i.  i  . 


liiniselt  orcUTtil   bin 


1  b\'  w«  *r  J  u 


mouth  to  iro.  and   requestiMJ  the  ;uiib.i>-a- 
demand    for    him    an    audit-nce.      Barrill 


(•r   to 


prevent  a   storm,   (H)tainei.i.   after   much 


i(ni, 


1 1 1  - 1 


.( ) 


i.are 


u  I.oni-.  X')v 


r.,^- 


26S 


LOUISE  DE   KEROUALLE. 


^.  '  i  1 


tor    til-'    draih:    1 


i  i( 


t<)   ^r-r-'tk  to 


his    Mair:>L\-    in    hi:^    chain!  w-r. 


Tiicrr  he  at- 
tempted to  jii^tif}-  hiniscir;  l)iit  the  kin-'  declincil 
to  b.old  con\'ersation  on  th.e  snhio'ct,  and  would 
not  rescind  his  decision.  Idie  Grand  Prior  chd 
not  make  any  |)r(;[)a  rat  ions  for  leaving",  wanted 
Ikirrilion  to  refuse  to  intimate  to  him  the  order 
to  c[uit  England,  and,  althoui^h  menaced  with 
"he  disjdeasure  of  Louis,  refused  to  tear  him- 
self from  Wdiitehall. 

Charles  sent  for  the  French  Ambassador, 
who  pra\'ed  him  ncU  to  imposf:  on  hum  the 
harsh  necessity  of  telling-  tlie  Grand  Prior  that 
he  must  quit  the  countr\'.  After  Ic^ttiuL^^  the 
matter  draL;"  some  da)-s,  Lieutcnruit  (iriffm,  of 
the  Mousehold  Guard,  intimated  t(^  M.  de 
\  enddme  that  if  lie  did  n.ot  leave  in  two  davs 
he  had  orders  to  arrest  him  and  [)ut  liim  on 
board  a  packet  which  was  to  sail  f)r  Calais. 
'I  ii(j  distracted  l(:)\a:r  still  held  out.  1  [r  ofiered 
to  ^o  to  tiie  country,  or  to  q'o  to  France,  prcv 
vided  he  were  cilluwed  to  come  luick  to  bui^'- 
land.  At  the  secret  entreat}'  of  Loui-.e,  who 
wanted  to  avoid  a  scriudcd,  P)arrillon  com- 
municated these  propo.^als  to  Charles.  P>ut  he 
remained   tlrm  to  the   messai^e   he   had    >ent  b\- 


END   OF    THE  REIGN. 


269 


(jril'm  ;  and  bo  iTie  Grand  Prior  sailed  at  the 
end  (ji  Xox'euujer  lur  lloUand. 

The  {rieudb  k:A  the  Duchess  of  PortsuKiuth 
breathed  agam  lreel\-,  and  she  lound  rcdief  in 
the  absence  ol  tlie  lancv  lover.  She  had  been 
in  terror  lest  the  Grand  Prior  should  think  she 
was    ]da\ine'    a    douljle     -^ame,    and    show    the 

X  #'  i.rj>  <_e> 

letters  lie  had  received  from  iier.  He  was  as 
much  stimulated  b}'  ambition  as  love  to  stick  to 
her,  he  hoping  to  derive  great  advantages  and 
consideration  Irom  a  liaison  with  her.  Up  to 
the  moment  that  the  ship  in  wdiich  he  sailed 
left  her  moorin.gs,  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth 
was  in  dread  oi  a  public  scene. 

Louis  Xl\h,  ot  wliose  foreii^n  policv  the 
Duchess  was  still  a  necessary  agent,  helped 
her  through  this  scrape.  He  ordered  the 
Due  de  Yenduuie  to  wadte  to  the  Grand 
Prior  to  inform  him  that  he  was  free  to  return 
to  the  Court  oi  Pd'ance,  Vv-here  he  would  meet 
witli  a  b  'Iter  reception  than  his  l)adi  cop.duct  in 
Ln-land  iiad  uiveii  him  a  rii^ht  to  exi»ect. 

Pile  Grauul  ^b)narch  liimsell  instructed  Ikar- 
rillon  to  let  Maidame  ele  Portbrioiith  know  how 
he  h:idi  sent  Cri>iss\-  to  warn  lier  lo\"er,  tlKit  if 
e\-er   \v:.    ^aid    a   v;c.>rd    to   her   disadwuUa^e.    he 


}  ' 


2JO 


LOUISE  DE  KEROVALLE. 


END   OF   THE  REIGN. 


wuiua  iiujLsr  iiis  rcstMitri-nt,'  !!«•  -poke  to  tlic 
same  ctfcct  to  the  iJuc  d-  X'ciivL  .iH",  so  that 
the  kid}'  mi-ht  ktd  a^^urcd  she  would  not  be 
in  k>auce  an  object  of  raihery  or  slander. 
Indeed,  Louis  expre>st'd  his  will  so  clear!)', 
that  the  Grand  Prior  never  opened  his  lips 
about  his  Wdiitehall  adventure,  which  was  kept 
so  dark  that  the  Due  d'Orleans,  wdio  ol)tain(xl 
some  inklin^r  of  it,  either  from  the  kino-  his 
uncle  or  th(!  Dc  Vend(*)mes,  f^mcied  the  object  of 
the  Grand  IVior's  passion  was  one  of  Charles's 
minor  concubines.  He  would  not  have  paid 
any  attention  to  the  matter  if  he  had  not  been 
amused  at  the  audacity  of  a  for^'i-ner  in  brav- 
ing a  king  in  his  own  State  and  at  his  own 
Court. 

I  he  Duchess  oi  I'ori^in^  *uih,  in   Ivr  r<:]atir:)ns 
witn   tile  (orand   i'rior,    liad   f  a-nie^l 
opinion  of  him  tluit.  nutwitiistandi:] j  ti 
^A    Loui:^,  bUe   tearod  an 
of  lier   i'-tters. 

ne^^7      Wa^,     ^:^>     I  H;i-:^i>Li:ne' 

liagu^;.  and  sa\-ing  ii'-  won^o  i-'ouni  to    i,,  ,.  .,  ... 
*^n  oTw^'r.  at  lu:r  m-eonc;'.  was  ^^Mit  to  ]^'-i  from 

^  Dec.    3T.    1683.     The   Duke  of  Vendome  was    eldest 
brother  ot"  u.c  Grand  Prior. 


mi: '  lit 


a   iy)'^ 


W  L 


niaue 


W  hat  >ii'f  :n^  ohcU'  '1 !  h^ -x  up^  ■  \ 


'   '  »  '  •  1  ^  tie         L  i  I  V._ 

! 


271 


hoff 


1     JT    '   \  '   !   t     \^: 


'  i     L  i  £    \ 


Ver^ai!!-'-.  to  orocred  t 
breach  aniLKiNsador  was  instructed,  that  if  he 
showcvl  liimself  in  Eni^land,  Kim:  Charles  was 
to  be  encouraged  to  use  his  authorit)'  in  having 
him  arrested  and  expelled/  so  that  the  1  )uchess 
of  Portsmouth  was  to  be  exposed  to  no  further 
annoyance.  In  due  time  the  Grand  Ihdor  ap- 
peared at  Versailles,  and  thus  ended  noiseless!)' 
an  affair  which  had  been  a  cause  of  deep  anx- 
iety to  Louise  de  Keroualle.^ 

Charles,  during  this  period  of  his  reign, 
received  /^'oOjOOO  a  year  from  Louis.  The 
receipts  were  signed  b)-  Rochester,  wlio  alont% 
wdth  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth,  was  in  the 
secret  oi  this  transaction.  Me  u'as  a  lu'other  of 
the  Duke  of  York's  first  wife,  ddie  I  Hike  of 
Rochester  and  Louise  were  on  tlio  l)o^w  under- 
standing With  eacli  other,  and  Uie\'  thi-oc  direc- 
ted, all  tile  aifan's  ui  the  R^A'al  t.nnih-.  Wdien 
tile  kiuke  ot  \  ork  was  looknig  lor  a  nialcli  lor 
'Ci^X    dauiiluer,    tho     ik'incess    Anne,    he 

,  jn      t  ilo 

was    charired    to 

si^    ^  hinb  )rzo    i^n 


hie 


coUsUitevi   iiie    loUiaio::?^    01    ioiLsinoULii 


,,»     p.,,-^. 


cho!c<.!    of    a    husbaiiii 


QI1 . » 


a-crrinn,! 


I'ruict!   t  1 


I  t  •   ,  .  '  '..  T     •«  T 


00 


:     '.      '   1     I 


i  H 


a    i 


i  1  i  C 


f,"^ 


2  Jan,  1681  :  Feb.  18,  1^^8,1. 


f. 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


likeness  c^f  t'V' 


I\.  i  11    '     u 
C5 


Princess  to  Copenhagc!!^       liK 

iJ_:iiii^rk  replied  U)  sending  hi^  iniiiia- 
tirr  s  -t  in  brilliants  i  -  ^h?-  D  ichess.^  In  I.'n- 
don   th^  ^if:    /.\i:>   c:^LiiMaU:d   at    1,500  guineas. 


rocco    came   to 


When  the  ambassadors  of 
London,  it  was  not  the  Uueen  or  Duchess 
of  \'ork,  but  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth, 
who  entertained  them.  She  received  them, 
surrounded  by  all  the  mistresses  who  were 
admitted  to  the  Court.  These  dames, — the 
accomplished  Evelyn  spoke  of  them  as 
'*  cattle," — were  as  splendid  as  flowered  tabby 
dresses,  point  lace,  and  jewels  could  make 
them.  They  blazed  in  diamonds.  Chocolate 
was  served  to  them  all.  When  Louis  Ouatorze 
ordered  the  Marquis  de  Preuilly  ^  to  sail  up  the 
Channel  without  deigning  to  send  a  notification 
to  Charles,  it  was  she  who  undertook  to  show 
the  kinor  that  this  was  not  to  be  taken  as  a  sign 
of  want  of  respect  or  friendliness,  and  that  his 
best  course  was  to  make  believe  it  was  con- 
certed between  the  two  sovereigns.  Otherwise 
those  who  wanted  to  detach  him  from  France 

^  Barrillon  to  Colbert. 

*  Affaires  Etrangeres,  Angleterre^  tome  cxlix.,  fol.  401. 

^  Barrillon  to  King  Louis,  June  21,  1683. 


|i 


'^■//        /   ;v//V////-/<^/- 


^ 
■t 


f     pi 


END   OF  THE  REIGN. 


273 


would  see  in  it  an  opportunity  to  weigh  upon 


[Q.an    on 


4-1,,, 


cnnntr\*. 


as  a  colleague. 


lairrUiUii,  waiu  wa^  ^ij  aai'vjit  aw-I   ci\Ui\\  treated 

W  niai  I  la/  i^  ;'aa.a-^s  .A  laie 
was  rnarriiH.],  she  a--k--d  iaai  wiicUier  ta^:  Court 
o\  \k  i-aiUes  would  not  sea  a  a  special  envoy 
to  lia:  a^eddinor  ?     11'    ira^wered  .  \\ju  and  I  will 

o 

sufina    M)  pay  all  the  compliments,  and  ir  would 

In.'  .L  aastake  lor  uersoa^  ai  uar  -aUKah^n  to  ask 
iwi  a  special  Embassy  to  be  sent." 

Hie  good  anvaT>tanding  between  tii-:  ta-o 
au  aaia:a:i  u.c^  heightened  b\-  a  aixairable  tara 
ia  public  opinion,  wliica  was  hrmrrlit  about  av  n 
blaaaurai  ■'  aK..a.  r)urav.:  uid  iruasides  of  ar^jm- 
Well  aaa  fanatical  ra'eacla/rs,  lainiinq'  aatli  sliame 
;aai  nalienatiua  at  the  debauchen  uf  kin^  and 
la  aaa.  .aai  the  coiaj/aaa  in  \v:a:ai  Kncrland  was 
held  a.arriad,  ■/■ -n-'nrv/d  i^y.::-.-ih--\  a-  a-r^a'-'-aiialc 
Ciauh  -,  who,  they  discovered,  wa.  aa  Man  of 
hia  aa.d  die  boil  ol'  !^Tdition.  The  iniauities 
(M  aaa  and  his  Court  were  rotting  the  hbres  of 
la':  [Kition.  and  brinofingf  God's  disnl^asnn  upon 
a,  a^  -hown  in  severe  varans-.  i/ruUuiged  east 
winds,  the  ereat  fim.  the  niataua  snaiiapox,  and 
the  disrespect  into  which  tiuj  nunc  a  a.ngland 
had    fallen.     That   tiiere  was  a  plot,  is  estab- 


'      H 


274 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE 


But  the  names  nf  the  plotters  are  not 

MJ  W'  -i!   i-:!V  ■;'/;;, 

t^  irn;  'ir:it-  ti    •   pnncipal  member    c!    :;:     t  ir) 
,    a;, a    the  judcres,    \".;l:    ihuir    habitual 


^'uii  iui'i  liiC  lillI'' ^ ! iness 


i !  )  -^ 


~  ■  .    i      V     i    i   .    w      , 
C  I  1  ^5t  L 


J 


f'  ? 


■!n 


^'^  .    ,'  !  • 


'^'laftesbury 
'  i'*:''  li  bcene,  ai^l  .\1- 
netieadf',!,  T;v  arrest  of 
Heved  ihc  pciiLi:.an-  f  l  I  rench 
^^^  ---  ii"  :  :  a  :rong  rail yi nor- point  f^,,  \^ 
advt  ivirics.  Charles  had  turn,  a  arainst  his 
eldest  son  a;:  1  spoke  l\  iiicallv  about  him/ 
l-^Ti  (ir-\  aaJ  been  among  iliose  tried,  at- 
tainted, ai:  1  condemned  lo  death.  After  his 
exocin'nn  the  King's  hear'  na  h- d  and  he 
'^^^•-'^  ^^^  it  >•  re  his  confiscatr-i  estates  to 
^'^''  ca aai'  n  of  the  unfortunate  nobleman.  But 
the  iiiiiv  alien  wi  the  Duchess  of  ruri^mouth 
P^''-''-'  -  tl^e  desired  act  of  restitution;  and 
'-^'^  ^v^^^  -i  '  tu  obtain  hr  herself  and  la  r  friend 
R-chesl  a-  1  ,a;aa  of  aii  that  had  belonged 
Lu  Lura  liro\-.  Rochester  and  GndoipUin  were 
'"  -t:-r  -a  :  a  :  -.  t  I  -  ichess,  who  judged 
---  ^  apprise  the  latter  oi  the  secret  treaty 
>viih  i  r  a  ce,  and  of  the  different  subsidies  which 

^  Barrillon  to  Louis,  July  12,  1683. 

-  Ibid.,  Affaires  Etrangaes,  Angletare,  tome  clvi.  fol.  30. 


-' 


■I 


END   OF   THE  REIGN. 


Charles  had  received  from  Louis  XIV.  She 
vent  a  lea  lu  do  herself  th^  honour  to  write  to 
the  King  of  France  to  answer  for  the  intentions 
aad  rondaci  of  Codolphin  as  she  would  for 
her  own. 

Barrillon  sometimes  grew  la  sliv  •  under  her 
yoke.  But  neiiier  Charles  nor  Louis  X I  \\ 
showed  impatience  under  it.  One  day  Charles 
called  aside  the  French  ambassador/  and  told 
him  that  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth  and  her 
sun,  the  Duke  of  Richmond,  were  the  persons 
above  all  others  in  Uie  world  whom  he  loved 
the  most,  and  would  be  deeplv  obliged  to  the 
la  aig  of  France  if  he  agreed  U)  reconvert  the 
estate  of  Aubigny  into  a  duchy  for  her,  with 
the  reversion  to  her  son  and  his  future  issue. 
"  Is  not  this  outstepping  all  bounds  .^  "  wrote 
Barrillon.^  ^  X^  .ui  English  duchess,  she  has 
by  courtesy  the  same  honours  in  France  as  a 
French  duchess.  But  that  does  not  satisfy 
her.  :^he  must  have  them  in  virtue  of  letters 
I  lent  and  as  a  right  sit  on  a  tabouret  when- 
ever she  may  go  to  pay  her  respects  to  the 
queen  at  Versailles."  Louis  did  not  regard 
the  application  in  the  same  light.  Barrillon 
1  Earrillon  to  Louis,  Jan.  14,  1684.        ^  j^^^  21,  1684. 


\ 


2/6 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


.1  7 

t        t    '  -.   ■       •        1-       - 


ters 


p--'/:it  1-.)    xv-\\c    tile    \),v^.\y    of  A  i  i  i  >:  .•  n  \-    wcrr^ 
beiii.^'     in:i(.U'    out/       liiis     ni*\v:>    \\\i>    rrr^-i\-!>.: 

u-'f'i     t^,.     p.,.^,,,-t       ,U:    1.,,.  ^   ^    .,,     \\':,;,     .1,    ,]]  \\*u.    ., 

'  •  •  ^ '  ^     I- . . '       1 4  i,  1 1 1  -.'.--  L     ^  i .  I    i  , . !    ,-1  -■>    I L  V.     \  i   1  i  i  L \   1  i  a. i  1  .  \  V   lit'.. 

\^^v:x'\:-'r.    Ijrniijhi    it   to   Ciiarl--.  tlvTf.    lo:   was 


*^i  v^  i  i 

to        V: 


!  1 


L  i  i 


I  )u.Ji'--^  iA    Purl-r^v 


alKl     W 


1  >. ' 


1  ♦- 


.^ 


4-1. 


il? 


^-M 


ir   R  K 


C  ■■  "  4  ?  ^  .- 


\     \ 


1    f  »  »"> 


she  A'l 


rrH.t]]     to     tt'ii     It 

out.  s""-.-;   vr r:\xQ A   the 

ii"!  ^  i\  Fnorland  in 
-hu  was  the  real  :;uvcreign. 
i:i  November  1684,  public 
Lii  :  i'j;^o  cruno  lu  a. full  stop.^  The  king  was 
loov  r  o  ;t  ^A  ;o  r  room.  Inquiries  \\ «  e  made 
^-ruoaiuK-  oo.uo  her  state  by  the  differ*  nt 
auibassadors;  and  H;  rra'  n  was  constaniK 
a-io::_^  liuw  she  was,  in  the  name  o\  the  King 
(  i  I  ranee.  Her  malady  was  an  opportunO) 
ior  Inni  to  v-'ani  inn  iresh  nrivileo^es.  She  was 
uneasy^  lest  iier  son,  he  being  a  foreigner, 
should  not  be  able  to  inherit  the  money  she 
W..J  invested  in  Trance.     Without  delay,  Louis 

1  Th      King   to  Barrillon,  Jan.    21,    1684.     The    letters 
patent  are  in  Les  Archives  Naiiojiales,  tome  xxviii.  fol.  150. 

2  Barrillon  to  Louis,  Nov.  15,  1684. 
^  Barrillon,  Nov.  30,  1684. 


I 


, 


END   OF  THE   REIGN. 


277 


issued  letters  of  naturalization  in  favour  of  his 


vor)'    dear     tun.l 
Cinirlt;-:,     Lennox, 


1 1 
i  i 


s  \  i 


consm      Ofaice 


1  nn... 

i      -    1  i,  i  V  V, 


■A 

KJ  i 


q:;  wo m  as  Ins  no^tJoT  w 
pn vilei^es,  naniciuses,  ajnn 
0 (  nnlemen    w    re    entitled 


1 )  ■  '  1 

i  V  i  v..  1   i  i  I  i.\  )  i.  L^i  t 


n '  ( 'n 


idncrdom    of 


iin-  riches  heape  1  up  hi  the  a' artments  of 
the  Duchess  at  Whitehall  scanJcili.:ed  the 
Engiisli,  :^'ie  was  always  building  and  pulling 
down  her  rooms  at  extravaQ-art  expense.  On 
rising  in  the  morning  she  received  In  her  loose 
undress  gown,  surrounded  by  young  girls ;  and 
sitting  before  her  toilet  rnlro  r  she  gave 
audiences  to  courtiers.  She  had  that  orift  of 
n.di.r^:  10  Bretons  of  both  soNies — a  splendid 
head  of  hair,  which  a  maid  combed  out  when 
she  was  receivinof  visitors,  liur  sanctua!'\  was 
reached  by  galleries  and  saloons  hung  with 
exquisite  French  stuffs,  and  with  Gobelins 
tapestries,  then  newly  hnented,  representing 
the  twelve  palaces  01  ne  great  king.  Inlaid 
cabinets,  tables,  desks,  and  •  ndets,  Japan 
screens,     finely     carved     timepieces,     massive 

^  Registered  Jan.   22,   1685.     See   AJ^.  Etr.  Angleterre^ 
tome  cli.,  fol.  230.  ' 


7S 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE 


pieces  of  silver  in  profusion,  ornaments  and 
rare  pictures,  .u  first  delighted  and  dazzled, 
-rA  th' n  surfeited  the  eye.  This  magnifi- 
cence stirred  the  bile  not  only  of  Puritans, 
but  of  men  of  t'l  -  world  who  still  retained 
some  honest  feeling.  They  reflected  that  it 
was  not  oil/,  the  wages  of  a  wanton,  but  of  a 
traitress,  wli*  .  wh'-never  her  Royal  paramour 
embraced  n  r,  compassed  how  she  might 
bring  \v.\\\  and  th  counLry  he  ruled  into  utter 
servitude  i)  liMnce.  The  queen's  rooms 
seemed  plain  cnmnared  to  those  of  ''  Madam 
Carwell,"  whose  wardrobe  was  as  fine  as  her 
other  belongings.  The  bills  run  up  by  her 
sister,  the  CouiitLD:^  ui  Pembroke,  whose  luxury 
was  on  an  inferior  scale,  give  some  idea  of  the 
style  ill  wa'^a  Court  beauties  at  Whitehall 
dressed.  They  were  incurred  in  part  for 
gloves,  ribbons,  and  other  haberdashery  fur- 
nished b\-  one  Lesgu,  a  shopkeeper  of  Paris, 
an  !  jaquillon  Laurent,  his  wife,  and  are  in  the 
French  national  archives.  In  the  last  three 
months  of  1682  this  couple  sold  t  )  Lady  Pem- 
broke ''  twenty  eight  pairs  of  openwork  white 
gloves,  with  orange  and  amber  scent,  and 
one  pair  c.i    gloves  costing  thirty- three   livrcs, 


I    i 


END   OF   THE  REIGN. 


279 


trimmed  with    ribbon,  gold  and  silver   at   the 
arms,    and    herring-boned    in    gold    and    silver 
on    die   back   of  the    hand;    seventy  pairs    of 
gloves  embroidered  and  fastened  at  the  arm, 
opening    with    strings    and    bows   of  point    de 
diajuant   ribbons ;    twenty  sashes  and    fringed 
ends,   in  various   embroideries    and  brocades." 
The  Earl  of  Pembroke  dying,  the  gloves  are 
no  longer  perfumed  with   orange    and  amber, 
but   violet    and    hyacinth.       All    the    fans   are 
mourning  ones ;    and  gold  clocks    are    worked 
on    black    silk   stockings,    which    are    fastened 
up  with  feidlle  ni07^te  and   silver  garters.      The 
fonta7iges  in   golden   crape  are  falling  cravats. 
They    were    called  after   a  favourite  of  Louis 
Xy\^,    who    enjoyed    his    admiration    for  nine 
months,  and  died  giving  birth  to  the  fruit  of 
the  amour.     At  the  end  of  the  twelve  months' 
mourning,   flame-coloured  bows  uf   ribbon   are 
placed   over   the  button-holes   of  some   of  the 
p-loves.      On  others  there  are  flame  and  silver, 
or  gold  and  blue.     Some  of  the  gloves  are  to 
match    with    a    rose-coloured    tablier,    or    front 
breadth  of  the  skirt,  surrounded  with    ''  silver 
clouds."     When  the  Countess  quitted   her  all- 
powerful  sister,  to  live  permanently  in  France, 


X       ^ 


2Co 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


>        \' 


V .  a  '•!     I 


n-^ 


:hartered   to    uanspori    tiie 

Kneland. 


^V  i  u  1      il-'f     li'O'P 


bul  ^'1   ladinor  speaks  of  chests  iii!^ 


b 


nv 


^  u;th 

^-'■''^■^''  ^^^'-^   W  t.:.;-.:i   flannel,  wiui  calnnets,  eueri- 

^^^^^^■^^    i--':;n-^-^-]as^,    frinics.      And    such    small 

iia!aji\uHa';r\'  a^    u.   na: 
p-^^   aia  i    a^  adies  :    a    i 


;i     n'-*v    ?■■ 


i 


poun 


H  1^ 


(ji      l)r--t 


^"^ -a\    laK't^rr,,  aiivi 
T-(a4 1-, 


ta    el     . 


ai'c    pixaaa 


1 


An  a 
1 


'-  n      i  i  ,  ■-'  -  r'{  .^  a     :'>'Z'.:'.\\ . 

aa-at!ons  :  S'a-'-at'-^r>n  dozrai 
1  -^-'"^  o^  siia  >a)Jan-:^,  thaa)- 
aui:^  oi  Mokn  coffee,  U:^\^s  a^.i^s  ^f  <rau=,  a 
chest  ot  ia;-C'Aaa.:,  a  i^u-^c;  ciie:,tUil  of  Liiook 
t':aa-aato  a'aa  candlr>-,  a  large  chestfal  f^f  >pices, 
Hicluding    ci.,.aro,     aao-.    ^in^or,    aaha^-o-.    and 


•-  i . 


t  -I 'I  f^.  f^ 


fa  die  bill  of  lading  oi   die  shia  in 


^XiiiKii   tiio   laoy    iierseif  -afa.    W'-    n;a._ 
nacldace    wr>rth    taa/aty    inousand    francs 


a  1 


1    !  i  1 


r.  I 


;'•■> 


K  -^  .  fa^  .,.],. 


ill 


car\'oi.i     SI 
20,000,    aad 

^K.l^^^'S    >>il \'(,a* 

bowir^.      (aUUia; 


i'S'a* 


/'^v;a    a    iidniaLure    of 

aasafi     r"<;poct;\-ah'     :, 2,000, 
I :\cral    dozens   of 

-aa    salvers, 

nuffers    and    si  aa    ira\'R, 


i  I  i  a  I  a  a  a  a  I 


C  J 


Oi.-N      a>.|     r1*-''Ta 


^ 


c^r, ;  )  ^  a 


cia-colatn  mugs,  spirits  of  wine  heat  as, 


k^ 


^A^i9    C>i^    r//£-   REIGaY. 


2SI 


disli  covers,  disli  hcaicrs.  The  Countess's  bed 
is  o{  crimson  Genoa  velvet,  hung  in  brocade, 
wah  a  aliite  grouiil  tn  \:\n  rod  pattern,  and 
satin  linings  for  the  curtains,  head-board,  and 
canopy.  I da^  cov(aJ  a  is  rS  needlework  point. 
The  other  bedchamber  furniture  i^  composed 
of  a  grand  aa  'a' t  in  old  Chinese  laquer ;  a 
Chinese  incense-buna^r  in  old  silver;  twenty 
ra!'e  and  precious  tapestries  ;  a  very  rich  and 
gi  oa_sque  screen  ;  manv  teapots  ;  Chinese  and 
Japanese  curiosities;  rnach  other  household 
Uaaiture;  coaches,  chaises,  Sedan  c'  sirs  •  a 
whole  set  <af  kitchen  utensils,  wiia  pewter 
platters  for  die  ser\ saia-,   jaflL 

\^nluptuousness  reigned  at  Whitehall,   wassa, 

a  .  *  . .  a , . . ,     « , ,    ..a       a'  -       a .  1     ■•  *  r   t^ 

^-^^■'-^-^^a    -•'    ^■-'-    i  is/aca   laaiCHaes    a!    a  rancois 

i  )aperrier,  ta^  a.)  arota;  aoii^a  sung  L\-  children, 

the  sleep}'  Cisirias  was  to  !a^  s^-aa  'a  v^c  ras,aal 

galler}',    reclining  l^auveen  his  tia-ae  faviaastas, 


who  were   in 


L  i 


oS/hSii    oi    \' 


womanhood. 


!   I 

.4.       A. 


■    ^   '  "o-  ,  -^  oa    .  t       ■  ?■        ■■  V 


ia\-o. 
attired 


a  a  a  ^^  a 


\oaa    iuo  /..  1  a  i  a  1  \ 


s  1 

a  a  ' :    a         "!  T  "1  a 


I  .- 


'  s  '  T     a  ra  ! 


r~*n  o  f  ,  a       a  a  ,  I  /--vo 


s.jaaa^sia\' 

I    ciuaa   oil 
1*1       1  '1 

".-!'.  a'       '    '    ;   L  K     a  i  ;  j    .'■  '*  'v     ,'    ^    ;    I 


On     ■■)     >; 


waa  candles,      ii   was  in   d;a  W  hitehall  galiof)' 


2S2 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


that  he  passed  his  evenings  with  the  Duchesses 
of  Portsmouth  and  M  :zarin,  in  the  winter  of 
i68|-.^5.  There  h.id  been  premonitory  signs 
of  a  break-d{  n  c  f  constitution,  and  a  more 
t:;a;i  oraini  y  aversion  to  mental  effort.  His 
''  ^  1  I  ;  -;  s  more  than  ever  spared  him 
tile  tr  )uble  01  i  insacting  State  business,  by 
niiiiaging  it  all  \^:^.\  Harrillon  and  the  corrupt 
in::iguer>  who  at  last  accepted  her  as  queen 
la  all  bat  name.  She  held  the  reins  of  such 
government  a-  there  was  ;  and  the  King  of 
France  no  longer  felt  that  Great  Britain  was 
:a!  obstacle  to  his  ambitious  plans.  He  was  to 
strike  another  blow  in  the  end  of  March,  which 
wuai  1  give  him  solid  supremacy,  not  only  m 
I 


:<  I  a'  < .)  ■ 


\sia, 


aca. 


It 


^  a:a  '  taai  ai  a  a  aa  months  more  Holland  was 
to  b^  a  i  1  aah  j  r.  )Viace,  and  all  the  Dutch 
colonies  to  pass  under  the  dominion  of  Louis. 
i)a:  in^^  w^-k  of  a  single  statesman,  liowever 
in  aubirious,  politic,  and  powerful,  is  always 
fra-Ha  and  at  the  mercy  of  an  accident  On 
tia:  evening  uf  i  cbruary  12,  1685,  Charles,  in 
rising  i  a.  'tadrav.  from  the  grand  gallery  and 
u>  dissipating,  suddenly  lost  consciousness,  and 
iell.      His  ai  :e  was  contorted,  and  he  eave  no 


END   OF  THE  REIGN. 


2S3 


sign  of  recognition  to  the  courtiers  who  pressed 
around  him.  Blisters  were  clapped  on  his  head, 
his  arms,  and  his  legs.  He  was  cupped  between 
the  shoulders,  bled,  and  emetics  were  poured 
down  his  throat ;  but  nothing  1  -used  him  from 
his  torpor,  and  he  remained  still  unconscious 
until  one  o'clock  on  the  next  day.  A  hot 
warming-pan  was  then  placed  on  his  head,  and 
his  jugular  vein  was  opened.  He  was  again 
bled  at  four  o'clock  in  the  other  arm,  and  the 
blood  flowed  abundantly. 

Nobody  was  prepared  for  the  catastrophe, 
and  great  were  the  tumult  and  confusion.  The 
Portuguese  queen  was  clamorous  in  her 
distress ;  and  the  courtiers  were  fussy  and 
officious.  The  Duke  o^  ^'ork  coolly  summoned 
the  leading  statesmen  who  were  not  his  open 
enemies,  to  prepare  to  assert  his  rights  to  the 
Crown.  Servants  ran  hither  and  thither,  not 
knowing  what  to  do,  and  having  no  one  to 
direct  them.  A-  fa*  tha  French,  they  were  in 
consternation.  The  only  person  who  showed 
any  head,  or  heart,  was  Louise  de  Keroualle, 
who  at  once  sent  for  Barrillon. 

''  I  found  her,"  he  said,  in  the  account  he 
transmitted  to  Versailles  of  this  blow  of  destiny, 


284 


LOUISE   DE  KEROUALLE. 


END  OF  THE  REIGN. 


"  ill  o-rr-^r  '^^if  t.      1)1  instead  of  bemoaning;  her 


own  -a  1  ci;id  altered  position, 


ing    fall, 


she    t^> 


1, 


me   into 


inipend- 


said 


SfoiniT 


of   England    i-> 


IK. 


cannot  deccn 


r^  '  1  > -/ -r' 


n  o '  ■^ ' 


himself  :i\v)ut   i;.^ 


t      ^  11 


t.      . 


>S  =    } 


.    i  '.    4.  t   .  5 


I  ;  ,     1       .    !  V  {      ^'       '     [     ,     I  ,1 

.u-    rA;abassad'..r,     1     ..:ii    now 
u  :i  secret,  although   its  public 

i  nst  me  ni\  head.  The  King 
iu  ue:  h  iU  ';n  ^  'f  111-  heart  a 
Li  r-  lie  1:3,  :>.uiuunded  with 
ops !  There  is  nobody  to  tell 
:  or  speak  to  iieu  *  UuJ.  i 
c'litv:!*  he-,  r-  ii;i.  Besides,  the 
-  re  rnnNte:U;\'.  The  I  ^:ke  of 
:  .\  :ih  iiL-  re ei  affair::  to  trouble 
h  kin  '^  'Conscience,  ^o  and 
cui^.ii'eJ  )"ou  to  warn  him 
■''  uching,  and  ih:it  it  *<  Iiis 
lu::^:^  kj\  linie,  hi:^  brother's 


1 


.  ;i 


■^  O  '  X  '  'T'^  ' 


I  leuiibe  probabi)   were  mixed. 
ej-    :->    C  itholics  ;  and  then,    le 

*■  \\ei--  eex;^)es  l-^r  ('e  eT's  to  die 
i:;--  Ciiercli  1 1  i^.:ne,■^  ii  maybe 
!e  hoped  to  win  tlie  esteem  and 
^arei  ui  ihe  lU.Le  ^j\  \ -.-riv,  lu  whom  the 
Creen  • ,  ;e-  ei  th  i  m'-  *  *  f  devolving-.  Be  this 
a.  it    ei  !\'.  Barrillon  hastened  to  the  queen.     A 


i  a    I  i  i  e 


;' '  t   .T-,r,<; 


n  T    1 


c->' 


285 


priest  was  discovered  who  had  found  favour  in 
the  eyes  of  Protesa.  .i  RoyalisB  i  e^  the  sword- 
cuts  he  had  inflicted  on  Roundheads  in  the  civil 
war.  Me  was  taken  lu  Chaffinch,  the  minister 
of  the  king's  amorous  affairs,  and  introduced  by 
a  back  stair  and  secret  corridor  U)  the  bedside 
of  the  dying  monarch.  He  took  for  granted 
everything  the  Church  required  of  the  king, 
and  gave  absolution.  Ga  i!a  fifth  day  of  his 
illness,  Charles  died.  An  hour  after  his 
decease,  his  brother,  now  James  IL,  went  to 
see  the  Duchess  of  ruri^ai  ai  and  assured 
her  that  she  might  tru>i  ai  la.  Iriendship.  iHe 
had  in  doing  so  but  one  simple  object  in  view 
— to  get  lajiia-.  X  i  \  ..  la  leaaiiae  the  subven- 
tion that  he  paid  the  late  king.  The  Duchess 
also  placed  her  iiopes  ia  hr-aira  a1a>,  \n  :e:-\ver 
to  a  prayer  transmitted  a\  lir  medium  of 
a  a'rillon,  t1iat  slie  ini^ait  hope  to  be  Iioiaujred 
by  his  protection,  wrote  that  ii  would  be  con- 
tinued to  her.  This  promise  was  the  only 
bright  spot  in  her  overclouded  ^jraspccts.  She 
had  sore  need  to  ask  for  his  assistance,  which  he 
was  prompt  in  giving.  '*  I  have  1' .rned  with 
surprise,"  he  wrote  to  ^  his  ambassador,    '*  that 

1  March  2,  1685 


286 


LOUISE   DE  KEROUALLE. 


T    T 


the   new    K'ng-  of  England   had   deprived  the 
Duke    of    Richmond    of    the    office    of    o-rand 
equerry,  notwithstanding  the  manner  in  which 
the   late  king  recommended  this  son  of  his  to 
his  brother."      .\     Louis  held  the  purse,  James 
humbled   himself  before    Barrillon,  and   multi- 
plied his  visits  to  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth. 
ile    openly    declared^  that    what    was   said  in 
)lland  about  her  would  only  have  the  effect 
of  making  him  pay  her  greater  attention  and 
go  more  often    to  see  her.      It  is  true,  added 
Barrillon,  that  he  has  been  twice  to  her  rooms 
within  the  last   few    days,  and    has    given  her 
numerous    marks    of   confidence    and    esteem. 
I    am   happ)    lu  find  that  she  is  be^innino-  to 
think   her  prospects   less    dark.     She    has   ac- 
cepted the  reasons  put  forward  by  King  James 
for  not  leaving  the  place  of  grand  equerry  to 
a  boy  of  thirteen,  who  cannot  fill  it  for  many 
years.      In  thus  yielding,  she  hopes  to  be  well 
used  in  the  settlement  of  other  affairs  of  major 
importance.      She  is  now  tryino-  to  o-et  herself 
confirmed   in    the   income  of   / 19,000  allowed 
her  by  King  Charles.      Lord   Rochester  is  well 
disposed    t    A  iris  her.       She    has  pressed   me 
1  Barrillon  to  Louis,  March  8,  1685. 


END   OF  THE  REIGN. 


2S7 


to  let  your  Majesty  know  that  a  mark  of  your 
esteem  would  be,  in  the  present  conjuncture, 
of  decisive  importance  to  her,  and  that  she 
would  thereby  secure  incomparably  better 
treatment.  I  have  told  her  that  I  am  com- 
manded to  render  her  every  good  office  in 
my  power,  and  that  I  have  even  defended 
her  interests  warmly  in  speaking  to  the  king  ; 
that  your  Majesty  has  given  her  and  the  Duke 
of  Richmond  the  highest  dignity  that  you  can 
confer;  and  that  her  past  services  would  be 
remembered,  even  though  your  Majesty  had 
never  promised  in  writing  not  to  forget  them. 
I  can  see  that  she  does  not,  apart  from  your 
Majesty's  protection,  hope  for  much  more  from 
France,  than  for  a  sum  of  money  to  pay  her 
debts  and  to  buy  a  dwelling-house  in  Paris. 
The  King  of  England  has  told  me  that  he  had 
obtained  the  promise  of  the  Duchess  of  Ports- 
mouth not  to  rear  her  son  a  Protestant,  al- 
though he  must  be  classed  as  one,  and  that 
if  she  keeps  it  he  will  do  everything  in  his 
power  for  him. 

The  power  of  the  purse  was  the  uppermost 
one  at  this  juncture.  James  and  Louise  were 
hungering   and    manoeuvrinor  to  obtain   French 


2SS 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


Maiestv  and  the  late  King  _•!  .^^^^^ 


a  close 


money.     She  knew  herself  to  be  held  in  horror 

b\  th'  Hnglish.  in  1  ih  :  the  pensions  which 
rcmuiaed  to  licr,  aivl  iicr  share  of  the  revenue 
LUiiies,  couK!    iiv  i  be  paid  for  a  long  time. 

'*  It  is  eeneraMv  rumoured,"  said  Hnrrillon, 
'  th  a  the  Duchess  oi  ihrt  mouth  and  Lord 
Siiii  ■   r' in  :  w   r-     t'!-  principal  agents   in  bring- 

Hno-land 
ndmof.  This  is  wh\  t  :v  \  are 
Ijoth  h;Ut:a.  L\-  lii-  whole  cotintrw  Th'  I  iachess 
a|a  rchends  attacks  n  her  in  the  next  Parlia- 
iiiciiL,  and  -;a:  wi^bps  tacrefore  to  hasten  awav 
fiaau  Hn  Hand  before  it  has  time  to  meet,  iiid 
t)  r-  t'r  •  t~'  France.  She  is  not  satisfied  with 
the  tr<..ita;  at  she  has  met  with,  and  makes 
no  lt  at  secT'  t  -  f  lier  discontent.^  His  Bri- 
taiaac  Maiestv  allows  her  a  pension  of  three 
tiiousand  gumeas  fa"  herself,  and  two  thousand 
[Juac  -a  i\'r1imond.  She  sent  him 
a\r:  all  the  ti\  thousand  to  her  son, 
bacatise    sht     would    not    trouble    him    on   her 

^la:  has,  besides,  two  thousand 
L  a. at  uf  Liie  confiscated  estate 
,    which,    however,    is  to    belong 


L-  » 


1       \T"\ 


KJ  i 


1  1 


to  tlte  Dak-   of  Richmond  when   he  h  of  age. 
1  Barrillon  to  Louis,  August  13,  1685. 


END   OE   THE  REIGN, 


289 


Sia  claims  the  right  to  go  on  drawing  from 
tw-ntv-five  thousand  to  thatx  tltousanil  oounds 
a  \  r  a  from  the  Irish  taxes  ;  but  she  has  not 
yet  been  able  to  get  herself  confirmed  in 
the  enjoyment  ui  this  income,  \\  lai  a  was 
granted  her  by  the  late  king.  The  disgust 
s  )  WiUbed,  along  with  tlv  withdrawal  from 
her  son  of  the  post  of  grand  equerry,  has  pro- 
\wkcd  her  into  using  plain  speech;  and  she 
complains  that  the  services  rendered  ai  obtain- 
ii^C   money  for  v.v^  pxoon'^rs  01   aw   Crown  of 


laigland    from  your   Majesty  have    been  for- 
cTotten." 

Whether  James  was  too  ungrateful  or  the 
Duchess  too  greedy,  it  is  hard  at  this  distance 
oi  lime  to  say.  But  eacli  had  a  well-accentu- 
ated vice.  The  Duchess  returned  u  France 
w  aa  ai  a  aglish  estate  worm  ^5,000  a  year, 
exclusive  of  the  money  she  had  irarested  in 
France,  or  of  her  haaiLiaia  la  r  -wels,  her 
^2,000  a  year  during  iva  an jnd's  minority 
out  of  the  confiscated  C^rr-x  lands,  or  the 
250,000  francs  ai  gold  la  a  she  draa  laa  in- 
stant Charles  had  drawn  his  last  bmath.  The 
|H  or  Ijreiun  soldier's  dauo-hter,  the  naiuaie  maid 
m' honour  v^^  Madame  ii    rrieite,  assured!}   was 

u 


2ro 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


I  ■^irturc 


I  1  i  ■ 


f  1  \ 


"yy  : 


i    i    ..    4    V  4, 


.1    \'i- 


A-    Ixiiio;,  wiio  told 


L  i    i 


i  4  i  1  i  L 


embrace 


HeaK^.v, 

In    i:iT    son,    and    exlvi'i'-l 
:    tr  ;  ■   rclio^ion.       1  n.  >     iio 
wish^'d    hull    tu    do  :     rind    slio   hoped    llu.    tiio 
Kiiu    ot'     .P'rciiici:    v.'i>tdvi,    uucr,    find    occasion 
''-t-  til'-    wc'dv   i^f  rr>-\TTsion  beofun  bv 
.ini'j;-.      il*,;r   a'U'uil    niuw.a  ui    thus    iiciL- 


i\  la  J' 


if.„.  1 . .  i 


•ut 


iKircii^    r  ndered   her   'lUcri    line 


I'  J      Li  i 


M^ 


t  ■  ( '  ■ 


f  de^radine   a  a  a 


1 


ark'd    a:  Aivryiist.   1685,  and 
d  iw  \  ersaiiles. 

WdK'H,  -ha  aa:ia-d  da.-  baicrli^h  shore.  i'aia^..aaa 

i  o 

titteen    \t  a' 
aancT^roiis      m-ra]     tnri'-r     n-A     -r^rviiado      t? 
France.      XuL    la.ii   James's    pahn    itched    less 
for  Tv  anaj's  hvres  than  that  of  Charles.      Bat 

fanatical    mind    and    his   base 
a  t     a  speedy  close,  and 


.  1 1  i 


.it       i  i  ;     /      i   " 


[fr=  .rt 


Ut    a.  1.0;.^    .  V  i  \  .    Li.)   a>^ 


■^r 


airone  oi 


1  '1  '  1      •       J  T 

! ..,'  I  L  i  1  L.  i  1  •  i  v..  '-  I  ,     -  I  i  ,11  i     \\    i  i  ;  •-.   i  I       i   . '    ■ 

i- 

saaaiax'  a \' aria  a,  ov-jiwn^ 


a  1 0   <  I  o  - 


a*  *a    i 


!  '    1    •  ;  t 


irp 


\ 


i! 


END   OF  THE  REIGN. 


291 


The  diplomatic  strategy  which  so  marvel- 
lously succeeded  for  fifteen  yeaia>  in  pcU  d\  zing 
England,  and  placing  its  goveraa  a  in  1 
foreign  woman's  hand^,  does  n  )i  seem  10  have 
been  often  repeated,  \dllars,  a  avever,  boasted 
of  ha\dnor  been  its  inutator.  KemarkmcT^  that 
the  Elector  of  Bavaria  was  brought  into 
daa  orbit  of  the  Court  of  Vienna  b^-  the 
Countess  Von  Kaunitz,  he  egged  on  that 
prince  to  draw  the  young  Countess  Vor^  \\  din, 
a  lady  of  the  Empres-,  lu  alunich.  She  came, 
but  she  was  so  stupid  that  the  ^buaiais  de 
Villars  soon  found  she  would  not  help  him 
to  break  the  chain  in  which  tlie  Countes^  \  a 
laaaaiz  had  bound  the  hd.  ct  a.  A  voung 
Italian,  named  Canossa  took  her  place.      This 


^/ 


emce. 


enchantro^^    had    =^tndied   galiantri"    h 

and  was   more  beautiful  than   c^iuj  iaid  need  to 

be  with  her  great  cleverness  and  experience. 

^  Memoires  of  Comte  de  Vogue,  published  in  1687.  See 
analogous  intrigues  in  the  iSth  century,  in  Le  Secret  du  Roi, 
par  le  Due  de  Broglie,  tome  i.,  p.  368,  and  Loiiis  XV,  tt  la 
Czarine  Elisabeth^  by  Albert  Vandal,  p.  62. 


CH  "> '"TER 


r 


I'm 


her  Li  n 


I  A'  RETIREMENT. 

lic:5^     1    Portsmouth  had  still  fifty  long 

ia' '  before  her.     She  survived  Charles 

H    r\'-    and,   after  outlivinof  most   of 

ni|H)raries,  died  in  the  reign  of  Louis 


X\  nni'd  a  generation  ^vho  knew  her  not, 
.;  1  \v  ii  .^e  eyes  wuic  lurned  towards  other 
nf  ri"  :n  th  la  tlmse  on  which  the  courtiers  of 
i.uui:^  XI  \.  orazed.  Muaiauuth  was  the  first  lu 
go  dowa  r)i  -ver.  H  plotted  against  James 
IT.,  a!  !  was  coldly  beheaded.  His  widow 
married  L  r!  C  i  awallis.  Jame- H  dethroned 
by  his  daughter,  found  a  refuge  at  St. -Germain 
en  l.a  *'.  llaj  Duchess  of  Cleveland,  grown 
old,  laa  c  I  linuing  irascible  and  a  gambler, 
became  a  \adow  in  1705,  and  married  a  second 
ti^^-a  in  h^r  -ixtv-fifth  vear,  Beau  Fielding, 
ah  )  1  ici\c  d  lalse  to  her  and  ruined  her.  She 
(lied  la    I  709.      Her  son,  the  Duke  of  Hi    fa  iid 


H 


Duke  of  Grafton,  born  in  1663,  created  duke  in 

2g3 


IN  RETIREMENT. 


293 


was  allowed  to  keep  her  pension,  which  has 
been  handed  down  to  his  posterity,  lie  was 
killed  in  fighting  for  King  James  against 
ATarlborough,  his  mother's  paramour,  at  the 
siege  of  Cork.  Nell  Gwynn  1  a  a  short  time 
was  outlawed  by  her  creditors.  But  James, 
who  had  promised  Charles  not  lu  let  her  starve, 
paid  her  debts,  often  made  her  presents,  cleared 
off  the  mortgage  on  her  residence  of  Bestwood 
Park,  and  paid  for  her  funeral  and  grave.  She 
was  buried,  in  1687,  in  St.  Martin's-In-the- 
F'ields.  Her  son,  Charles  Beauclerc,  was  the 
ancestor  of  the  present  Duke  of  ::>i.  Alban's. 

The  blood  of  Charles  H.  runs  in  the  veins 
of  many  peers  of  the  realm  of  Ureat  Britaind 

1675,  with, — for  a  youth  with  a  bar  sinister  on  his  arms, — the 
strange  motto  of:  ^^ Et  decus  et  pretium  recti."  Married 
Lady  Isabella  Bennet,  Arlington's  daughter. 

1  Of  the  children  whom  Charles  II.  owned,  the  following 
grew  up  :  James,  Duke  of  Monmouth  and  Buccleugh,  son 
of  Lucy  Walters  ;  Mary,  daughter  of  Lucy  Walters  ;  Charlotte 
Boyle  Fitzroy,  daughter  of  Viscountess  Shannon ;  Charles 
FitzCharles  and  a  girl,  children  of  Catherine  Peg ;  Henry 
Fitzroy,  Duke  of  Grafton  ;  George,  Earl  of  Northumberland, 
and  Charlotte  Fitzroy,  Countess  of  Sussex,  the  children 
of  the  Duchess  of  Cleveland ;  the  two  Beauclercs,  sons  of 
Nell  Gwynn ;  the  Duke  of  Richmond,  son  of  Louise 
de  Keroualle ;  Mary  Tudor,  daugliter  of  Moll  Davis,  and 


i 


294 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


'f 


1  ii^-  Ijjchess 


arin  shed  iioods  of  tears  for 

ishmeiii    iA     >a:..t 

t  >     \rtemisia, 

i:c  iriaiblecl  h-r  head  luurc 
any   of  !ier  other   lovers. 

iL'Url^^t^ii   )car:5,   .;!:>!   died   ni 
1600    whhout    fv  r    Inving-    quitted    England. 


K\av; 
and  w 
about 


id,    wao    coni'virf'!]     h 


1  w 


ii  ? 


i        k       "^         '       i  i    i     i     J     1      I 


the 


A^e. 


1!^ 


i    a   r  corpse, 

^yed   Lu   obtain  it.        H  ■  took  it 

'^    '    •    a  \      :,  from  one  estate  to 

crav^^    a.    a  aiporary   sepulture  at 

liesse,  where  the  country  folks 

'  '^'^■'■^'^y-^^yci-  nf  a  -:rnt    and  touched 

1    ta   a    chaplets.      He  ended  by 

V^^^'^Z^    it   ai   th      ^ana-  t-mb  with  h-  r  funous 


1 


'vl     l^ 


i-      ^,  i  ,  ">       i. 


l:  : 


ai  a-  I'L^ileo^e  dc  Uaatre  Nations,  now  the 


^'- '^e  o^  t^  fa  -t-e.  The  Duchess  trans- 
^-i^^-  '  a^i  :juaereign  charms  to  her  five  o-rand- 
---aa at'  :-  th-  Dr  aLr  \  Xesles.  who.  .'th  the 
^^^^-^  a:  I  MM.  i  received  the  power  to  captivate 
■■ 'o^        ^  '^     ^  idest  was   declared   the   mistress 

married  to  the  1    r;    ,:  ]  'crwentwater;  and  Benedicte  Fitzroy, 

^^''^'-'5  -  ^'  '^^tei  Dieu  de  St.  Nicolas  at  Pontoise. 
\  ' '-  •'  ^  .  n  ai'jr  Henedicte,  who  was  said  to  be  an  early 
trim   n  :-c  a;  1   .1  ui  Iki. :.•■..  M.iria  and  Lord  Jermyn. 


IN  RETIREMENT. 


295 


( a  Louis  ^ 


^  ^  ^  1 735»  some  months  after  Louise 

uc    K^'I■■i)aa1le's    death,   ana    \\  .w   a.    an--    laiGr 
M\    the  second,   who   was   etap-  a    hx 


cut 


the  lia 


wlin 


had 


a- 


p 


the  fifth  Barrillon  become  the  air^eoarable 
friend  o\  \ladame  d^  Sevigne.  and  died,  rich, 
iat,  and  old,  in  1691. 

Ti'  Duchess  of  Portsmouth  had  the  morti- 
firati  :a  uii  arriving  in  France,  tj  iind  her  sister 
HI  in  interesting  state,  and  forced  ai  own  that 
she  had  privately  anuiacd  the  Marquis  ue 
Thois,  governor  1  Idois.^  The  young  Duke 
(I  K  diniond  entered  the  Catholic  Church,  but 
\\\i-  in  a  tor  that  the  less  corrupt  an  1  vicious. 
ITn  relapsed  to  Anglican  Protr-tanLisin,  or 
rdiaar  lived  and  died  a  godless  life,  and  was  to 
its  end  plunged  in  drunkenness  and  debauchery. 
In  in  being  one  of  the  handsomest  young  men 
111  h noiand  h  -  became  the  nio^t  hideous  old  rake. 
I  jH"  Duchess  of  Purt>iiiOiiLh  went  back  to 
Eno-land  a  year  after  she  left  it.     Whether  this 


iopeared  suspicious  i 


lO    i^UUl:3    av  i 


or 


1  The  five  granddaughters  of  Madame  Mazarin  were  the 
ijuchesses  de  Mailly-Nesles,  de  Vintimille,  de  Lauraguis, 
de  Flavacount,  and  de  la  Toumelle. 

'^  See  Dangeau,  t.  i.,  Feb.  5,  1685. 


296 


LOUISE  DE   KEROUALLE. 


whei'if_^r,   :i-    ^a'n: 

S*  imn  avers/  she  dar 

i    If ' 

tairC    luo    Irc^.-lx'    {.A 

M-.-;;a]]^-    dr    ^i  a,ailt-rH  >; 

i.  an 

orK,i-./r   wa^  Lfix'^^n  u. 

*   i .( '^u  \'''  •  a-  I ! '  a  r.  i  '.\'  a  a  a  . 

:  ::re 

de  cadicl    lor    iiar 

K.  t  La'  1  V^  .  I  > 

i    ■•■'*'  i   ''  %   .       '  •  '!    !      - 


■    \.  K.    -%-    %    i.    ■    ^ 


•Xi.c.         i  ;;-    aaaala    n^ 
oa     Loav'ois'    de>i.     \'.a;a      Cuiirliii 


i     !  /  i  L^  >..  a  "  i'^  vi 


iiaa    iierai    in   iauit 


^  N  u      Li  U  la  J I     :::?  i  1 C 

v'^n  so,  it   would  be  a 


iin-L.i-.a    tu    au    lariiua-   la  a.    t 


•11  r  1 


i 


u 


I  ); 


t(j    Ui-)a*jnfjar 


cachtt,    and    adnait 

c^auaa'-auan,    trurn 


'\-a:es 

siie  rencic 

'aU.   \' 

*' 

ki;:  ^ 

,          i  ^(JLi  i.->j 

tr.)     \' 

' ' *'.     a ; 

a-n-^'!     tlia 

letn 

C 

i  )Mr]Tpcq 

t')    a 

.-.uila 


re 


Jie    issued    i-raauv 


sai:^n-^]. 


I  itT  ninaa: 


^  1 

:^  t  >    <,  ,>  a  j 


(  } 


ia  K  i  :- 


r'';ati'.»n> 


-i  1   i  I.  i.  V   4.  V. 


t     '1 


a  o  o     -  u  ^ 

o  ^  ^     >,  n  c 


1  Countess  of  Piannml^c. 


1'-       -;na  T^ 

1   -  J  i  „     1  •,  I  ;  1     .  .  i   ; 

nianai     i  •  t  vveen    her    niece,    tiic 

ctHvi     tiia    bon     V)\     j  f.a 
Har  cnrr(oaonil'aa:'' 
traau.U  \\\i^  uttan  diai 


ina    n 


.-^ 


■c. 


nK  and 


j  I. 


1  5^ 


ana  >;!;• 


tc5  V  n  I  )an<j:eau. 


~  jJaneeau  ana    "^a 


:-nnon  differ  in  some  points  on  this 

M:   ;i   i^   not  111  full  agreemeiit   with 
himsc",  m  •  .„  /({//t/jr  y/zft/z/j  recently  published  ■;.  Hachette. 


intervic  '. 


I 


I 


/ 


IN  RETIREMENT. 


297 


tions  obliged  her  to  make  humiliating  explana- 
tions. On  January  ist,  1689,  die  )oung  Duke 
of  Richmond  presented  himself  at  the  king's 
coticher,  to  speak  in  f:i\a>nr  f)t  his  mother. 
Louis  told  iaai  that  he  knew  both  of  them  too 
well  to  have  suspected  them  for  a  mom.ent. 
However,  to  draw  certain  revenues,  they  were 
obliged  to  pay  their  court  to  William  of  Orange. 


The  Duchess  of  Portsmouth  eot  ii 


Ci  i  i 


.dney, 


Algernon's  brother,  to  remind  him  of  the 
a\'  nin^b  he  spent  at  her  rooms  at  Whitehall, 
and  how  she  intricrued  h  r  liina  arainst  Mon- 
mouth.  Rut  thp  Revolution  of  1688  had  upset 
many  of  the  fortunes  asmted  out  1  the  reve- 
nue b^'  Charlf^s  il  \\\y:\\  ])<  r  inronic  oat  of 
the  Posi  (  office  return:.,  which  die  Duchess  of 
i-ornnnoutli  thought  so  snro.  wa^  suspended. 
;oaa  was  informed  simultaneous))  lun  none  of 
her  English  pensions  would  be  paid  until  farn-'- 


orders  :   that  her  apartmeiii: 


\  \ 


!n.uh  with 


•  ni 


il' 


nmptuous  furniture,  inai  bet-n   i  arned  ; 


1   ■■    t  L    s 


m 


lal  nt  r  w.i-  U\  in:;. 


I  ■"  a , .    f 


kahn 

o  •  o   a 


England,  w  ua 


comer.     5iie 


! ;  t 


:    1   ii)sconded  trom  ia  r  t 

a*  ai^  Ina"  I^a.  a\'  wher(-  ia*  \' 

aai  1  t     Louis,  that  she  could  not  doubt  of 

on'-  folly;  cuui  dait,  belie\in;  ho  had  gone 


I 


( 


298 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


over  to  t!v^  i  rince  of  Orange,  she  was  ready  to 
d;"  'h  despair. 

i  1  -^  u  -ni'r  \v:i^  all  the  more  r-:^1,  because 
Louis  had  .^ranted  the  youncr  scamp  a  pension 

f   L\v'?nt\-  th'-^^i^aiid  livres — wiiicli.  di  a  deeree. 
uiisoled   iii^   niuLii'_r   lur   the  los:^  kjI   d'-r   Lno-- 
lisii  ' /'^^    :  !:!!  nt  ,,      Id  t    'd^'  t  misfortunes  were 


( * 


V- 


"w  •     <J     1  V 


:u  -n.  iicr,  tiic  King  ui  !-!\uicedid  not 
abandon  her.  He  transferred  to  her  a  pa-t  ,  f 
tac  p-ra^i-  a  which  acr  son  had  abandoned. 

Ira:  a  a  ame  she  devoted  hersed'  t  the 
aianagement  of  her  estate  ca  d\-bigny,  and 
exerted  i  a-  ua:  benefit  of  her  serfs  what  ai- 
flu-nc-    renrdn'-d   to  her.      ^wine  to  the 


sistent    j) 

France  r^ 


'Ui 


ladies 


r   iiage     of    Louis,    her    position    in 

ained  a  good  one.     The  collections 

-neravings  of  tbo    principal   Court 

a\  -    included    the    likeness    of    the 

1  Five  engravings  of  the  series,  executed  at  this  period, 
represent  tht  D  chess  of  Portsmouth  as  Venus,  and  her  son 
as  Cupid,  against  whose  arrows  a  Spliinx  protects  her,  Chez 
M  irrictte,  Kue  St.  Jacques  ;  in  a  loose  undress  on  a  couch, 
Chez  J'.:r;v,  u  rdi'ciir^  Rue  St.  Jacques ;  an  imitation  of  the 
l.receding,  R  B.  del,  chez  .V.  Bonnart^  Rue  St,  Jacques ; 
toymg  with  a  giove  and  perroquet,  Chez  IT.  Bcmnart,  au  Coq  ; 
with  a  (  iie(the  mostcliarming  of  any),  in  which  the  Duchess's 
i  la^  is  shown,  with  her  head  turned  round,  Chez  Trouvain, 
Rue  S:  Jirques,  1695. 


IN  RETIREMENT. 


299 


Duchess  of  Portsmouth.  But  her  income  fell 
off  rapidly.  William  of  Orange  grudged  her 
the  smallest  sum.  In  1^0;-  she  obtained  leave 
to  go  a ,  London,  and  Louis  spoke  wdth  much 
kindness  on  the  subjectd  William,  who  divined 
the  object  of  her  journey,  and  had  no  wish  to 
let  her  fill  her  purse  with  guineas,  sent  her  word 
that  lie  would  prevent  her  landing. 

So,  she  was  obliged  to  face  her  creditors. 
Procurators'  pens  aai  caa  slips  of  parchment, 
which  bailiffs  served  on  her ;  and  her  chattels 
were  on  the  point  of  being  seized  paal  sold. 
Louis  again  saved  her.  By  a  decree  signed  in 
Council,  he  ordered  her  creditor^  to  desist  from 
pursuing  her  for  a  year.  dv  d  a  d.a  period 
elapsed,  there  were  fresh  writs,  followed  by  fresh 
petitions  to  the  king  to  iirLcrranc,  Ihe  state 
of  the  Duchess  f  Portsm  :  dd^  affairs,"  d  was 
set  forth  in  an  order  of  Cuuncil,  ''does  not  allow 
her  ,a   ar-sent  a^  discharo-e  the  debts  that  she 


r->  I   I  il  i  ^5 


ha^  coiaracted  au-  which  < 
darassing  and  pursuing  iier 
ua\"^'^  fpcoarsp  to  a  is  aa.a:;-'a\' s 
huadd\-  a>  bapplicaa,.:  aaa  ai  aa-^ 
to  -ia\-    Uiese   pur-idt^  -   and    wd; 

^   Dnngeau,  t.  iv.  \>.  -    j 


-,ta  her 


(obliged   U) 


1 1 ' 


rea'=^.    ai    c- 


#"■» 


300 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


or   an\~ 
< '  ■. ;  I,  ;    a ; 

Li  i'  ■     ^a; 
all  \'   <'  M 


1    ui    th<=^  said    i  ^;r!iess's    petition,   his 
a  t  ninr:!  ii as  prorogued  and  i  i'oro|[{ues 

\    -if,   eiiaai^    September    9111,    i  "jOC^ 
I  tia    \  aat>   -:  lalned  i  y  such  creditors, 

■naai    ;na\-    h^^   v.aia;a    d^a    tiav'"    tah^ai 

di-  ddijr:.iy  toriud^  aii  dia  creditors  of 

1  Hiarajss   •"'aravy    that   pcaa^a    t^    mrike 

r^..^  ni  aar  laianLuru,  a',|uipages,  or  other 

t<i  h'aa   under  paia  ^-f  nallit}' 

'a\'aa-at    (u    .a'    costs   and 


c 

'.It 

aa:-;    ; 

J  (  - 1 1 

(  ) 

f         t 

r  u  c  '.^ ' 

,..  .  i  i 

aaa     da- 

5 

■  J   t  'M 

i-er^. 

'  ? 

\" 

i.       .     '     ■;       »■-* 

' ;  f  r  ^ 

:r      x'^Mf 

a 

a^  1 

•    ■   \  ^  -  ' 

■^    '  ^ 

received 

C  1 

\vi  ail 

;  ;  n 

HI    id'-    >. 

-uii    w  a - 


a.i, 


^,;  a  1  a 


SIKh 


.Snf    *■ 


I..(uas 


*■:  r 


a  I     u  nj    (,„  i !  ^aa  r    < 

,1-1      'n 


lice, 


(  ) 


^•■caiat}'   (A    ^a  iiriniiaaaa,    uaui^ciciajiis. 
mK'  t'>  wrd'-   to  \ya-,\,  tliat:  t!v^   present 


r^v-^il'.,.    \ji    i 


t     n  ^  ■  f    'it* 


1 1 


iiiaii^  liiLi  iiL*L   aiiuw    iici"  to  aa 


aa    tia^ 


debts,  a 

(n:t  lu  Liri\a  a\\ai\'    r 


K-....1 


cr<  *i  a  t !jrs. 


M  " ; 


I  ia  i"^ 


a  e 


Identical  oracr>  ot   ynancC  in   1699,  in 


ident*'-'^1 

d)ct.    5,    1 701,  on   Oct.    2. 

(HI      DrC.       10,       170.1 


Li 


a.-.: 


/    --■  J 


'    ./'';'aaf\v   X:i:i,  n.il.i  J:    Fiafice^   E. 
'a-a>   ^--  ^:,'3i- 


IN  RETIREMENT. 


\o\ 


1 706  the  unfortunate  tradesmen  were  able  to 
find    protectors,    and    began    t  ■    d   naal    tliem- 

selves  befuio  uic  Council  irarn  adan^  ^  ui  the 
royal  authority.  The  Sieur>  (daipiia  I  illet,  and 
Lefevre  proaontad  iud;aico^  L>Man..:  to  a  t^nd 
of  130,926  livres,  U)  sols,  ddia  I  >aa;a  ^-.  aad 
pur  a-ai  on"  by  paxan-  an  aa-aain' 
of  160,000  livres,  la  coverabie  ai 
on  da^  rents  ca  Aiiliayn).  ni  da.- 
20,000  livres  annually.  i  he  order 
did    not    deien    to  look   intf»    tdi^   c 


1  a 


total 


ation  i  A 
Councib 

•    -  r  \  t 


ord\    took  coo^nisance   ui    uu:     ii  ira:.hi  d   lady's 

prayer.     I'he  wars  k-hveon   Franc-^  an,!    Rng- 


I  <.:  i  i  i  I, : :?  a  1  i  L  o-_i     m 


I  J  o  J ,     \\  o  1  a 


drawn  a-^ai 
of    150,000 


a"  <  i  a  r 

iC--  {:  aaaj'^ai  \ 

ars  a  !)ension 

/Airs, 

1 ,  *  \          i.  i  1  u        i ».  t.  i,  '-.^ 

.   siie 

W.l^.    Da    kiaa. 

aa>   h(/r    rank. 

1 1 


^  '        '  M  ^  0 


.lit. 


I  Ai.:AKl 


\  i     \ 


Li 


n  > 


t  a  i.-i 


man 


t )    i  aat 
i 


M 


iiKaana   wn 
•  1    1 


I. .'  i  i 


it 


I   tn.r    aUjaUaoi  oi    in>   .Ma!^-r.i\- 
'   ^ad.l   iaO\-    m   liio   cnioyniant  1 
ail  :-dia    iias  assi;.^aird    tiaan.    ' 
i^ouaci!  iO-cidod  that  the  crecjitors  to   naaan 
rents  of  Aidiiijnx'  wan^^,;  C(jn\a_.oa.  ^d  ai  ta^'  oic  : 


!        ;    ;  f   ■' 


1 


Ar-'/it:  c)  A\uf.^ 


"  i  934'  ^-^"  .:o  j  uai  1 


i  -'J* 


302 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


ti'.'n.  (.)[  ic\ooo  ill' i\'y  a  xviw  inrric^lit  \'''ar=^,  wrre 


V.iA     to      hv 


ill     L  i  ; .  1 1     1 1 


A  i  N , 


wlic)  ci.jni'j^.i   as    laia^f^   a   sum.  w^tc   to 


>  f 


n 


l!  ?- 


lain^".      I  111;^    ni\.;cr   (ji    Lcjimcil,  a>    uKuiibiDtriit 


\  ••    1  i.  i  1  i       i    V.  1  i  L  1  1        J  V.  I  \\  t  L  >>  V\    i  I  i  i      i  U  I  L  U  i   -.  u 


:  -a  a 


to  ihf  -aid 


niauc  '"  ill    cn-a'T   to  faa-urc    la^aai 
1  hiCiior>^  for  the  pax'na-nt  of  ia-r  d 
was    anraiaa'    ^^niaiar    (a'Jor 
\'oars.    iicainnina  (HI  April  j  ^,    1710, 

S{a\'a:r'-.  rm- 


1 V  a !  t '.  ■  I     i  o  I 


1    i!<  'fC 

two 


',-> 


1  ho  aTatitiklo  of   I.(aas   for  tia- 


t 


aaaol   >ach   a   hjiia    tina 


I »ro\'i>  a]->i\'   onix' 


i  1 1 1 ;  J 


with  iaai.  idio  1  )uciaj^>  was  not  onK-  pro- 
t'COxi  a:^ain^t  hor  cia-(  liters,  i-ai  ai^ainr^t  tlic 
States  ot  laattan)'  and  tlu:  adiiiinir^tratioii  of 
tho  Crown  I,^o!naiia 

Tho  I  )aclu.:S:.  had.  in  tlio  lie  annin'"'  of  tho 
la.^^t  cantarw  tho  nu'o  oii:co  ot  ''"'hoI  tortiinc  to 
he  "ovictod  tor  n-ar,ons  of  [uilihc  utihty."  d1i<! 
pour  manor  h-ai^t:  01  hia'  tathor,  ovca^Iookin- >■ 
tlie  [)ort  ot  Brr^t.  was  C(.)m|)ri:^od  in  tho  o\-ic- 
tions  which  tho  croation  ot  arx-nals,  rope- 
walks,  and  naval  stores  wcaild  necessitate. 
Ikit  Lotiis  XI\d  had  decided  that  the  price 
of  the  properties  situated  at  Brest,  in  the 
borough  of  tlie  Reconvrance.  waas  to  lie  [)aid 
^  AiJi.  Xat.^  K.  1937:    \'..   i'/5J,  i'j!.  57. 


IN  RETIREMENT. 


303 


f^w 


r 


tia"    e\"c*hai    of    the    owners,    bv    t-a 


V 


.'  ii>4.  L'._  ^5 


'  r-  • 


.^*i     ia^LLciii\  .         L  iie\     iii.L^_i.    a^wO    lo    iJi.i\, 
(ont^^sted     the     valuaii   !i-.  The 

Ih.ichi:--  of  Pori-ni; '.it;!    whose  patenad   nainor 
the   borough    c>i    lia:    R^- ■> 'Uvt -asco   ap- 


wais   m 


1 


1  ■  ■! 

i  M  *  -  <    i         T  > 


/    " 


to   lao    0.' 


,-  (-- 


i  1 ..  i.  a  c  e  ;:> , 


ana   i,awa::i.*a,  <ai   ordor  ot    lia,.-  Lo.aica  ./aaatmu 


.-> 


ll-  -r    :;  o    i    -^  ->      /;;•  I'r  <     \y\\     \\)U-    1  O"    '  'o  •     1 '  ^\  rh^'O  la  ''' 


tile  ^tatt/s  ot   iamaaiiw 


k  1.  X  \ 


a!,  aioi   a   new^ 


nr 


.f  1 1- 


to: 


'•  1 "  1 . 


pa 

obttunoda         i  he     trouisuror     cd      iaattanx 
commanded  to  r*^"^^'   it  on    i 


1    a  was 


for 


'. .  ei.:n 


1    •         •> 


iX  I 


1  • 

a  M  t  h  1  •. '*•  t-  \- 


which   coxajred   iuh   resia )n-a)aa w  aian  rajt  to  Lo 


imi  w 


aied    b\-  anxtinia: 


\\ 


a  a  1  i     o  i  V,     .a  t^i  L<,.a 


N 


ha\-e    determined.        Ihit    tia^.    lancuonarx 


not    laiia    \\\    u\ 


xaiaditx^   oi    tae   command 


receua: 


•,  i 


lie    fell 


.ick    c)n    the    ueti lions 


other  kuidowners  near  I3rest,  who  stood  ina 
a^aiinst  an\"  one  claimant  bein.[  paid  in  lull 
while  the  other  creditors  ware  o\\\\  partial!}' 
satlshed.  This  ditticuli}'  wais  settled  b\'  a 
further  order  to  pav  every  one  in  full. 

Tlie  Duchess  had  a  sharp  appetite  tor  public 

i 

1  For  all  the  proceedings  m  this  :uoir  see  Arc/nrcs 
Natioudlcs,  Feb.  26,  1704,  E.  741;  242:  July  6,  1704, 
E.  1927  ;  July  1,  1704,  E.  746. 


3'='4 


LOUISE  DE   KEROUALLE. 


in  Willi.: :'i  .Aubijns 


th'?    functions 


i"i    (J I 


r 


;]1  ri'P\"n' 


{"•  r,  ince 


TfU   n  n'  saiC 


1 


i.^r\      \'■~A^^ 


larni-s    oT 


f 


1        1     •  "111  1        • 

ann    cinini'-a    tnn    ^'xriu^ivt^ 


^> 


ri^^ht,  in  \nrtn'- 

sell  lii^:^'-  runnti^'iis/    The  Counnn,  to  w 

2 


.  to 


*  n   "--  n  c 


■  'J  iv^-^"i  ni 


I 


■;    n-r  !  n.-()ur.        i  ^ni  n 

nn.;"  any  -  ^M  u-a^^;"  tlnnt  nelped 
to  NWc-ii  iu/r  inC'Mn".  slv^  \va-^  s^';nnii\  la-a^h-  xy^ 
v\y}j-  ali  seigneiirial  obliq;ati»  Ma-.  I'ia-  CiiaitMa 
of  Aal)i^..a:\  i'-l!  nut  ^a  r^nair.  Slin  nl'ai'lf^d 
Lw^iL  1 .  '. V  vi.~'  i • .'.  Li . ..-  v_  1  ■ ' ,.  1 1  I'- )  Kcci )  1 1  an,  i ua:^- 
mac!i    a>    it    wa-    an   appanage    wa'cln    in    trie 


K..    \    l„  S  i  I       L'  i  i   i  '.. 


>    '  ^  .  t 


1^  (  .  t  - f  i  r*  f      f  , 


n)    a  a:    iv 


tiaa'nlurc,     ija    Lmj: 


ijuCLaiUiiia   cxiun'/t.  wuiiiU. 

o 

nnmain.      Sa*/  roaid   not, 


necess  ltn 

ia,  [;aj  ciaii 


\  «  >  n. 


:L^ 


i    I  V  I   V   4  i^ 


i  a^ •  i  ti' \i  wa,-.  aca*'! itni i 

1  ! 


iwara:- 


r- 


■a    tn* 


tla,:     i:!''-^'    oi     tnc     Lji-'-ai 
l".xc;a^xa'n'    \vn- 


\  ;  n  a   "1 


1  tr 


H  )  V 


the  Daciaj: 


•a;;  )\\ 


a 


ii   niln  arr^'-ar.      biie 


-i: 


ail  V  *!.: 


1704,  E.  746. 

,  1707,  Arc/i.  Mi/.,  1 


/  / 


fi 


/N  RETIREMENT, 


305 


again  applied,  and  not  in  vain,   to  the  Comp- 
troller-general. 

After  the  death  of  Louis  Xi\.,  ])eo-o-in(-^ 
supplications  were  sent  up  lu  the  RegciaL,  who 
augment-d  ^ar  pension  fron^  i  2,000  to  20,000 
cuaa  liirii  lu  24,000  livi-es}  Sac  was  ihca 
wiam)  converted — a  penitent  '\n  d*  nr,  and  ob- 
liged a>  ]i\'c  eaa..!ri-d  m  tiii-  aoaaaa-.  d1ie  ser- 
\a(n;;-^  ^la ■  *'•  'riaia'f'- .  , 
bia^  was  the  all  '  h)\\  * 
w^^K-    -a a    rememd-f' 


to   int.. 


r  la'acii   cause  waicn 
na-aTe'=s   oi     alaades, 

1  low  I' 


r,    ^he    had 


\perioncc    nia    to    trn-t    to 


\ V  nen   ^^a'..:    ~-ttW    ia<.,:    nriaav'i.ti    trash 
'a'''^nr\'  romni''''  on    s]ia  n)ro''osed  i^"'  ^t 
\>\^ii.-^i\jtk    .-ji a_/ ^4 iv_i    Dc    conurRai,.(a 
vornna-at    debentam.   aia,]    pi 


pension- 


id'    n*(nl^)a.Jn    :3n*_/aiva 


a    o-o- 


4    i  i 


Reennt 


lu     blOil 

o 


I  ^    '  ;   :  1 


u 


*'  M  Pierre  Gruyn,  the  keeper  of  the  Royal  Treasury,  is 
hereby  ordered  to  pay  in  ready  money  to  Madame  Louise 
Rene'e  de  Penancoai  ^c  Keroualle,  Duchess  ui  i  uii:=inouth 

and  Aubi^ny,  the  sum  of  600,000  livres.  which  have  been 
'accorded  to  iicr  !a-  tia:-  kinjj.  to  \y  tan  .,<.s\ca  ;n  buying  a 
lif:  annuity,  payable  out  i  la  Majesty's  Exchequer,  and 
tv!  laplacethe  pension  of  24x00  livrt\s  unio  w.  -  r)artially 
granted  hci    by   ihe  late  king  ana   part-ally  b\     a     a-cni 


^  Dan^^eaii^  Jj^ine  20,  17 18,  t.  x\ii.,  p    ^20, 


X 


\i 


^ 


500 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


Majesty,  in  consideration  of  the  great  services  she  has  ren- 

cl-rc  1  France,  and  to  enable  her  to  support  her  rank  and 

i     :i   28th   October.    J  ;ji. — 

Philippe  d'Orl^ans."^ 


'O" 


:    I): 


1  LJ  I 


\    Portsmouth's  son,  the  i  iuke 


1     :.       '■ 
1    'v 


'  {  \       \  -i  »■;  f. 


aere 


M.^rqi]!^.-  d-::  I'hois,  ^^:  tiint  lier  end  wa-^  ara,r,- 
anu  ii.i.i  a  notar.  tt^tched  to  h^r  hou  v 
Rue  de  \\,r^:!;:  -,  un  May  12,  1;.;^ 
''seated  in  a:i  arni-chrrr  in  a  '^r- ):••'''-•!- u- 
lo''^<^'  _:  uii  the  garden  of  the  sai  i  ii  :  i,  -;ie 
^  ii'jf  will,  and  died  on  Mnx'  24.  Ln^n^e 
:  ii  :r  lime  years,  and  in  ihaL  liine  never 
•^  ■•'ic;n}''  >;  .-  there  founded  a  con- 
hosp  tai  nuns,  who  equally  divided  their 
t-  I  Lwcen  the  education  of  the  youno-  and 
Uic   cari    ui    the    sick.       She   also   spent    ^^■<    ' 


.\    I      \      \     \ 


vent  i 


1  i  <    '    i  V 


in  di:'a>ratinL.'  chm-ches. 


October,   17:; 


1  i  iC 


Weill  Lu  i'cxi'ii  tu  Luri-UiL   a  doctor,  ana 


\' 


'  )V  ::a    r   i  a  at   the  age  of  eighty-five.      She 

^va..    laaac^:    ai    the    ciairch    of   the    J  Ktrefuot'e-l 
^-^^^^■-^^^--^--^   '^vae:r.     there  was    a  chapel  ui'   ihe 


'    : >:^,  Bibl.  Nat.,  t.  50417. 

-  ,^rch.  Nat.,  t,  152  ;  6. 

^  jyc7r?/r:'  :^^  I  runce,  Nov.  1734,  p.  2533. 


IN  RETIREMENT, 


307 


^■^^-■•^'  ^<;^^u:x,  aiiu  c^tiii  were  proud  ei'  being  of 
her  kindred.  Louise's  English  descendants, 
who  hved  \x\  Enfrlaial  o-i  rat-  \\-j->^q  of  ji-r 
double  iniquiL)'.  neglected  a  sjy  aiai  t^rab,  but 
made  iaavte  to  eai^e"  iett)  i)ossessiun  oi  the 
*-d'  iA  Aebigny.  li->  Ci]:ite.a..a  .n  ilu.:  rei-n  of 
i-^-aa:^  \\  i..  \v:\<  I'-nt  1,0  the  i  )iea,a.'^s  of  l.ein- 
ster  ay  her  brother,  the  Duke  ui  kicaaiund. 
Tliat  ladv  wa^  then  iiaj  wif^-^  of  yi,  Oailby. 
^ae  took  with  her  to  Aubigny  lier  sua,  Lord 
lohvaal  Fitzgerald,  who  spent  some  years 
there  in  his  boyhood,  la  ignore  a  a  1  tar  lory 
i^(  la  \-  it  came  into  his  relatives  hands. 
Aubigny  was  taken  from  the  Rii  hia  ad  iaaiily, 
when  fiefs  were  abolished  b)  lie  Revolution. 
Rut  the  pension  the  grasping  Dia^hess  of 
Portsmouth  extracted  from  the  unpatriotic 
aaiarle^  IT.,  and  which  wa=^  sequestrated  by 
W  iia.iai  of  Orange,  was  restored  a*  her  son; 
and  the  British  Parliament  which  thinks 
^i, J 00  a  year  enough  lu  reliexe  tac  distressed 
families  of  authors,  artists,  scienri-ts,  and 
other  benefactors  of  their  couau),  continues 
to  aai\  the  Duke  of  Richmond  ^19,000  a 
year  ai  virtue  of  the  secret  r\  aa  rendered 
Louis    XI\d  by  his   ancestress    Louise    de 


I  i 


3o8 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


iVl-ff  n'U: 


n 


n 


h  r-'i  t" 


U    V„vi.  i   L 


i  1 


f  !'     i  4  <  ■  "1  (,,'  t. 


,11 


;i;-i 


1  i     i  f  - !' 


.fT  nif 


:n(sr\-  to 


!  1  r 


1 1 


Hi)  « 


I    ,        4   i-    1 


-liii   ow 


V„   ""5 


rii 


s 


r ;  1  r  i  u  - 


r?  L  <.  I L 


('.A' 


■  TT 


iblinj"    th 


to  conquer 


la  i  i* 


A 


ti 


(Jon 


1 L  c; 


:uK.l  to 


Hi 


n 


Tt 


i  .    i  L 


r?^'']  [■ 


I 


fttt 


cv 


I        I 


%       ■  ^».v      ""^'. 


^        I 


\      ,i 


li..\i,.Ml.M     "1 


.   I     I     I  .  I  * 


SIGNED      m 


\  f 


i'ORTSMOUTH. 


is  original   autograph   letter  is  preserve*!  in    tin*    Prcn 


\rchives,  (G'    Controle  general  des  finances). 


m 


^^^^ 


H 


Ix  <Tivin(r  the  following-  letters,  tlie  Trans]<itor 
thouo-ht  better  not  to  attempt  a  translation, 
because  all  that  shows  ci  total  absence  of  educa- 
tion in  them  is  untranslatable.  *'  Le  style,  ccst 
rhomme;"  and,  perhaps  in  a  greater  degree,  le 
style,  cest  la  femme.  Louise  de  Keroualle  has 
no  style  whatever.  She  spells  like  a  serving- 
wench  who  has  taken  to  gallantr)-,  and,  apt  to 
write  love  letters,  is  not  mistress  of  her  pen, 
and  shows  in  the  inability  to  say  plainly  what 
she  wants  to  express,  a  disposition  lacking 
•frankness.  Although  orthography  was  not 
fixed  in  her  time,  there  was  a  current  mode 
of  spelling  among  men  and  women  of  gord 
breedin<^.  Well-bred  women,  in  the  seven- 
teenth  century,  were  well  read  and  were  ad- 
mirable letter-writers.  Nobody  knew  better 
how     to    say    just    what    she    wanted,    without 


jii 


I 


1 


<* 


312 


LOC//S/-:    /V:    KI-:ROrALLE. 


surplusage  or  baldness,  than  Madame  de  Main- 
tenon.      And    who    was    ever    more   skilled    in 
using    elegant    language     for    the     purpose    of 
saying  nothing,  when  she  had  to  write  a  gooo 
deal  and   appear   effusive  ?      This  is  shown  in 
her  letters  to  the    Princesse  des   I'rsins,   when 
that  diplomatic  lady  was  directing  Philip  V\  and 
his  wife,  or  later,  trying  to  inveigle  that  king 
.  into    making    her    his    second    wife.      Madame 
de  Sevigne  was  so  spontaneous  and  frank  that 
one  can  almost  see  the  workings  of  her  heart 
and  brain  in  her  letters.      Madame  de  Montes- 
p^an   gave  the  clear,  sharp  stamp  of  a   coin  to 
the    ideas    that    circulated    around    her.       The 
Princesse     des      Ursins      and      the     Comtesse 
d'Aulnoy   were   at    the   cotirt  of    Madrid  what 
Lady    Wortley    Montague    long   after    was    at 
Stamboul.      These    women    were   prepared   by 
severe   mental    drill  in   youth  to  be  the  bri'dit 
•s    and  unconscious  chroniclers  of  their  time;  and 
belonged  to  sets  priding  themselves  on  scholarlv 
taste,    which    then    took    a    tinge    from    Spain 
and  a  strong  colour  from    Italy.      Madame  de 
Sevigne    was    at    home    in    the    Italian    poets, 
which    she    read   in   their   own   ton'uie     and    in 
the    Latin    authors  ;    and    she    was    at    once   a 


LETTERS    OE  DUCHESS    OF  TORTSMOE 11 ! .  3x3 


bookihh,  a  brilliantly  sociable,  and  a  business 
woman.  She  called  ignorance,  by  which  she 
meant  non- acquaintance  with  the  standard 
books,  ancient  and  modern,  of  her  time,  an 
*'  ugly  beast."  The  library  of  Hortense  Man- 
clni,  Duchess  Mazarin,  was,  when  she  was  a 
refugee  in  London,  one  of  the  subjects  of  table 
talk  at  Whitehall  and  St.  James's.  Ninon 
d'linclos,  the  enchantress  of  three  oenerations. 
divined  in  her  old  age  the  part  V'oltaire  was 
likely  to  play  in  the  world,  and  gave  the  first 
impetus  to  his  literary  career  by  leaving  him 
her  books. 

The  brilliant  French  women  of  Louise  de 
Keroualle's  time,  save  Mdlle.  de  la  Valliere, 
were  viaitrcsses  fcmuics — a  term  for  which 
strong-minded  women  is  not  quite  an  equiva- 
lent. They  were  women  of  initiative  and  of 
genius,  which  is  always  an  independent  thing, 
and  bears  trammels  uneasily.  Madame  de 
Sevigne's  genius  was  governed  by  her  mater- 
nal passion,  and  strengthened  by  good  sense. 
Mesdames  de  Montespan  and  de  Maintenon 
were,  in  the  bottom  of  their  hearts,  merely 
ambitious  of  governing  the  ablest  and  most 
self-willed   monarch   of   their    time ;    and    they 


M 


LUCISK    r>I:    KERiU/ALI.r. 


succeeded — one  by  her  wit  and  her  imperious 
temper,  and  the  other  by  her  strength  and 
:oolness  of  head,  and  her  reposeful,  simple, 
elegant  conversation,  and  her  craft. 

A  little  later,  two  of  the  illegitimate  dauQ-Ji- 
ters  of  Louis  the  T^ourteenth  turned  out  to 
be  the  most  accomplished  rh\'mini^r  lampoonists 
that  ever  used  the  French  ton^^aie  for  a  ril)ald 
and  malii^mant  use.  They  |)OSsessed  tlie  sju'rit 
and  the  form  of  the  cliausoii  in  a  no  le.ss 
dei^^ree  than  I^eran^er.  Hut  the\'  ix diluted  all 
they  touched,  graceful  anei  li-ht  as  tlieir  n.iuse 
was,  for  they  went  in  tlie  way  of  the  old 
Princess  Palatine  in  _n.rossne<s,  and  luul  a 
pruriency  of  feelin-'-  for  which  their  eri-dn 
accounted.  Their  L;rand  position  Wcis,  I  ma\- 
here  remark,  due  to  the  examj)le  set  b\-  Charles 
11.  and  its  action  on  the  court  of  X'ersrulles. 
Those  accounts  L^iven  1)\'  lM"ench  ambassadors 
for  the  private  readini^  of  their  Kinir,  of  the 
i^^oini^s  on  in  the  seraglio  at  Wdiitehall,  and  of  the 
P^n^dish  king's  prodigality  in  giving  pensions 
and  duchies  to  the  children  bred  therein,  doubt- 
less helped  to  break  down  that  respect  for  wdiat 
was  seeiuK-,  which  live-]\-n  and  otluu*  Pui^^lish- 
men   so  much  noticed  in  Pouis   the  b^jurteeuth, 


LETTERS    OE  DUCHESS   OE  POEISJ/Ory-J/.  31  ^ 


and  contrasted  wdth  the  disrei^ard  for  decenc\- 
of  the  merry  monarch  in  saddHng  his  ladies 
and  their  offspring  on  the  nation.  May  not 
the  desire  that  Louis  so  often  showed,  to  hear 
-ill  about  the  corruptions  of  the  Englisli 
court  and  the  shamelessness  of  Charles  in 
giving  dukeries  to  these  children,  have  arisen 
from  a  secret  wdsh  to  find  in  his  bad  example 
a  pretext  for  leiritimizino-  and  enriching-  the 
ottspring  of  Mademoiselle  de  la  X'alliere  and 
Madame  de  Montespan  ?  'Plie  existence  of  the 
sons  and  daughters  of  both  ladies  was  kept 
lonsj-  a  nnstery.  ^Madame  de  Maintenon  took 
charge  as  governess  of  the  MontespcUi  lot, 
wdiich  were  hidden  awav  r.t  Issv.  P-^vehn. 
wdien  in  PVance,  noticed  the  care  taken  to  keep 
them  out  of  si^lit.  It  was  onh'  wdien  the  mind 
of  Louis  was  saturated  with  letters  about 
Wdiitehall  that  he  thouelit  of  leoitimizinij'  and 

<^  o  .^ 

heaping  appanages  on  his  illegitimate  sons  and 
securinef  the  most  brilliant  matches  in  Prance 
for  the  daughters.  To  do  him  justice,  he  did 
not  seek  so  much  to  enrich  them  at  the  cost  of 
the  countr\'  as  at  tlie  cost  01  his  eklerh'  and 
eccentric  cousin  la  (irande  Mademoiselk?,  or 
rather,  at  thai  ot   AP  de  Panzun.  a  (jascon  w c.o 


316 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUAU.E. 


T     •  ^ 


I  i  V_.  )      t  I  I  i      I  1  »  (  t  ■  » 


L   L   I    1    i 


;;-;]Cino:;q      cS     \^\ 


!    i   U   V.    ,   :   I  I  C  'J  i    1  I 


i 


i    1   ■,_,  'J  >  ^  i    I 


n  ;  ^ 


'[ues- 


tion,       1  iir  evH  cr.niniiifiic.it'niis  nf  t'l'-    rr-i-ii'ii 

cllll  iJcl'-':''<U.Ujr  >         111        l^UllLiUl 
1 


i     inaimcT-,    of     their 


roM-n     to      l;Ci:-\'o,     tlK"      'M.n,i      m 

'i'i^"  inU-^i^ai  to  \\li;c]i  li:^:.;!-'/  ca'vA  Lolli^,e 
d*^'  K  ■.o'uuaL''.  War-  t()  h'^  Ti  con^^cious  tnol;  aivi 
h^-"  f-^^'-  anoail'.n,  O)  {;*'  //  ,-  //;7oa//.t  /./  luieux 
enl !-eUuiic  tu  Jim-i  r  .      >'o'  had 


in 


1  '     O*       s 

■  n      ^^  1  -  ■  1 1  i .  -  T  1  ' 


.ill'.  4        >'.,K,  l(i{        \\V 


i  i'-'Li'j  L'i    Liial  b  \  11  i 


paiiiy  iMf  id-a^  wiiich  made  some '>r  i.lo.'  mo^ 
fiaiani  1' i^cnCiiwoaiLai  ui  iior  a.n'  r'a<a  ni  the 
^'■"^ftv  oliacs  of  Coiav:i!--,  aa  I  aaa.  rar-.l>  =aal 
otli'^r  ui^oiaata):!-.  i-^  a-Mr  i>ossuet  discourse  on 
'^  ^--i    a.'^'   i'a-w-a:'    tv:    /a:'a,     ^  >r    Bourdaloia- 


?  •x^.a  L 
-^  |H.-ii^aaaaia^  eloaaraice  in  t-a-  laa,,.-  ihn-o 
uaaan  aa  f'a.aaaaa  lo  -irengthen  thera:^caaes 
l'.a'  a  ia^'a',:r  \\\--  io'  arax-^i;       "Idie  bi^-  anra\v]*'o- 

'         -  c>       ;  ' " ,  '-^ 

■•  1  ■  -       ,  .  ... 

n  a  1  "^  ( i  \\a'  o  i  ?  1  r    i  >  r     t :  ^  •   w •  ,■  -i  •  i ^i  * ;  *    i  c    •  i      t  =  •        »  .■  ■  o-. 


cauaa.'    as 


spr 


>1]:n'r 


<;-> 


1     i„  i  i  ai     V  *  ' 


;  i  >  i      v\ 


>    a  a  ^     !  1  a  a  .  O     '  •  I  1 

ct  i  i  •.t      1  i  .5     1  i  i      J  a  i  ^  V      !,„ '.  .'  a  V  '■  ij  t^  I 
i  >     s. ' . '     >  i  ,.a  i  I '       V,.  .\a  ^  , ;  i  L      ,.1     :i !      a 


.1      I  i''<a]l !  !'*      of      t  |]<  > 
•'''■.  1  i.    i  a      I  .  .  a  L      a  I      H. 

^    l^'aina]    ^wMwvj    Ill's 


''  -1 V      L-  i  i  I  a  ,  i. 


1  ais 


1 


1  f 


i  :  t  .l<,ai  V  < : 


,• ) 


ana  a  puur  n'-ait. 


'  t^r-\\(\' 


LETTERS   OF  DUCHESS   OF  PORTSMOUTH,  ixf 


have  scribbled  often  and 


;i  n  M 


voQ  whoni 


friends 


in     n  n  1  f  f  •  n  ■''* 


her  home-country.     She  \\i  uKi   iauaj   pa^ivou   a 

uoal  into  cinaall  space,  letter- laio^n"  aial  lai^tai^e 
bot\\a.-*jii  i^rance  aad  laa^daiiJ  being  very  dear, 
and  da-  opportunitia^  for  ^caad'a-  hat'  ■:--  from 
uiic  cuaai!\-  to  anotiior  Ijoaia  laaa.'  and  aa^agular. 
Use  would  have  made  liar  aiistra 
The   fact  of  Louise   da 


:^  "^     S,  >  ; 


aiaa    a 


i  \  '^    I  ■  '  ••  1  la  .  a„ 

ataaaiia'     ir 


a 


da     tongue   of 

waaaii  she  n^n'rr  aia-i^rt.  d,  an:L,1il  tij  rtax-a  been 
a  .la  lulus  to  the  epistolary  laaait).  W  a  na.  t 
concliido  that  this  gift  wa-  altog'-tlior  wanting 
in  her,  and  thai  she  wa^  uaa  ui  uioj^c  chaiaiCLar- 
less  womi  !i  whom  Pope  best  liked.  An  inde- 
poad^aa,    a 

been  ai   it- 


?    tin    active    mtelirci    uoaiLi    v\.\m^ 
aa\.      ii  was  her  business  to 


dee 


in 


\  - 


>!id 


(  H 


s  M  '  Tl 


\     Olv*      r  I'oIiLii 

tins  waji  -docility,  and.  boaai:- 
braia,  >aK^  trvp  dc  ^He.  d  tii-  di 
in  laa'  liaridw  oiaij.  The  pesi 
buiaoiaay  beran^^^  tli^  tin. >a„.d-^ 
selves  slowly.  Wetiiia  aiid  h 
and    isbjects  of  ]ier  life.      S!i( 

I  a"  .     '     i-  .        ■  '       ,       ,        "       ] 

neioeii  aiui  iiei"  -^lui,  anvi   certanny  hiic- 

aa  •    I     1  l'i     <  »-/  >  1 1  .  o  ^  ,-     f  a  ,  >  i->-|  f  r     t  i.'     «i ,  a     t  a     t  h. , » 

\\  V  i  i      111      ,__  I    I  ».  i  .  ;  .,_^      I  .  i  ^    a  1 ,  1  L      J  , •>      i  ; '. .- 1      t «.  J     L  i  i,  O 


tanr*    t 


t  'a 


t  r  t 


Dul 


i  11  ^(  'i !     t  h a ? 


wan  It 


n 


'  >  'f 


3i8 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


credit    >f  F:io;land  that  this  woman   \vhose  cour- 

b--a!in^-v»-i    i/A    ininn    would    hav^*   wiiJih^ld   her 
iroin    iiu  ;      _^  ti;  tinction  at  Versailles,  directed 

ih'j  n^'i.':\-  ^^:  L-iiar'":-   H,  torso  mai;\-  v^-wx"^. 


G.  M.  C. 


I. 


TO   HENRY  SIDNEY. 

Letter  published  in  the  diary  of  Henry  Sidney,  vol.  ii.,  p.  307. 

Paris,  8  mars  1689. 
Je  sais  toutes  les  bontes  avec  lesquelles  vous  avez 
parle  de  moi.  Monsieur,  dont  je  vous  suis  infiniment 
obligee.     \'ous  savez  combien  toute  ma  vie  j'ai  et^ 

dans  vos  interets  de  vous  et  de  vo^  amis  Do  mon 
cote  je  ne  suis  point  changee,  et  i'on  ne  peut  prendre 
plus  de  part  a  i  tii  te  qui  vous  regarde  que  je  fais. 
One  mon  absence  nc  mc  niiise  doiic  imn  plus  aupres 
de  vous,  et  veuillez,  en  vc  (,i  i  dependra  de  vous,  de* 
bunnc  fni  protci^er  nic^  interets.  Vous  savez  qu'ils 
sont  SI  attaches  a  ceux  du  due  de  Richmond  que  Ton 
ne  les  peut  separer.  Je  ne  doute  point  que  le  souv^enir 
que  vous  avez  de  qui  il  a  rhoinijiir  d'etre  fils,  ne 
\\)us  porte  davantage  a  i  <  us  continuer  votre  amitie 
que  je  souhaite  tresfbii  cl  puur  1  ui  ci  pour  I'autre. 
Vous  voulez  bien  que  je  vous  supplie  d'avoir  un  peu 
de  bonte  pour  M.  Hornby  qui  i-i  c<:^.\{\  i|ui  vous 
rendra  cette  lettre.  II  est  tout  a  fait  dans  mes  in- 
terets et  de  mes  amis.     Ce  me  seroit  un  grand  plaisir 

319 


320 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


si   je  pouvois  autant  compter  sur  vous.     II  est  sur, 
mon  cher  oncle,  que  vous  ne  pouvez  jamais  etre  des 

a::  1^  cc  qui  que  ce  soit  qui  soit   plus   des  votres,  ni 
qui  V   u>  honorc  ;>'i;    narfaitement  que 

I    .    luchesse  DE  PORTSMOUTH. 


LETTERS   OF  DUCHESS  OF  PORTSMOUTH.  321 


que  vous  pouves  vous  ymaginer.  Pardones  moy 
mais  frequantes  inportunistes,  vous  m'aves  permis  de 
center  sur  vos  bontes  esssentiellement :  ainsy,  Mon- 
sieur, ge  m'adresse  a  vous  avec  confiance. 

L.,  duchesse  DE  PORTSMOUTH. 


II. 


TO   Tin:   COMTl-    DE   PONTCHARTRAIN. 

Letter  preserved  in  the  National  Archives,  G",  controle  gene- 
ral des  finances,  and  published  in  the  Muse'e  des  Archives^ 
n^  897,  p   540.     Original  autograph  document. 


1  'J  I  4 


iX\  ■. 


'X  4   I   i  v..    wi    1    \>. 


C  t  1  ^  i 

"     T  r  " 

\\ 

n 

ans, 

qi!.: 

■  ''^ 

'■- 

iC> 

d.      u  - 

u> 

--■: 

DC'.! 

H  n !"' 

c^t; 

>    V 

V 

CI 


L' 


r    !;s 


Hirer 


ic^  vouloir  tx 


VOll!o\T 


^  r 


Paris,  4  octobre  1692. 

n'  <  re  dais  abistans  et  dais  paysant  a 

;;::•'■.  uLii  est  ma  duche,  me  Lut,  Alon- 

iciice   vous   conjurer  d'avoyr   v'Ucs  du 

t.ii  ou  il  sont  reduyt,  tams  par  lagrande 

ct  (':  -  ustensille   qu'ils   ont  tons   les 

rialheur  qu'ils  ont  eu  d'une  grelle  qui 

.    -t  ai.n  .       lis  sont  sy  accabl6  et  sy 

pa\cr  qu'ils   abandonnent  et  la  ville 

•I  c;      1:  fait    Monsieur,  que  j'ose  vous 

nii'j-  (in  .1.    .  r  puur  cux,  et  de  vouloyr 

tic     cr  lucour,  intandant  de   1'   urge,  de 

ic:  jciis  de  guerre   st'anne,  et  de 

::i:cr   ^a    taille,  estent    apsolUimant 

N      \ous   n'aves   ste   bontes-la   pour 

n„    liie   .  t  refusse    pas,   estent  une 

la  n^i-cre  v  estent  au  dellas  de  ce 


■a  I i l . 


i 


III. 


TO   CHAMILLART. 


Letter  preserved  in  the  British  Museum,  Ms.  Add*^  1S675,  ^°  74- 

Original  autograph  document. 

De  Paris,  ce  2d'avril  1701. 

Sachant  et  connessant,  iMonsieur,  lais  anbarras 
d'afaire  que  vous  avez,  je  n'e  osse  tous  se  tems  cy 
vous  trop  presser  et  vous  conjurer  de  vouloyr  pancer 
d  moy  comme  vous  m'aves  fait  la  grasse  de  me  le 
promestre.  O  nom  de  Dieu,  iMonsieur,  ayes  asses  de 
bonte  pour  moyet  depitie  pour  matriste  sirconstance 
pour  vouloyr  m'accorder  le  payeumant  dais  quinsse 
mille  franc  que  vous  m'aves  dist  que  le  Roy  ordonest 
que  je  touchasse  a  pressant,  et  acordes  moy  I'expe- 
dission  de  mon  arrest  pour  le  surplus  ;  que  je  me  flate, 
iMoiiMcur,  que  vous  ne  me  feres  le  tord  de  mettre  cy 
bas  mais  interais  que  M.  Pelltier  les  a  reduyts  ;  que 
je  vous  aye  done  la  sansible  obligassion,  Monsieur, 
que  je  ne  perde  poinst  moytie  par  iih  ytie,  de  con- 
siderer  qu'estens  sur  les  estats  que  je  sere  ancore  bien 
du  tems  sans  toucher  mon  arjent.  Ainsi,  iMonsieur, 
aves  I'umaniste  d'antrer  dans  mon  malhciireux  estat 

Y 


322 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


l:  que  li  Ifquidassioii  que  vous  voulles  bien  avoyr  la 
bontc  ck:  fan  J  soyt  en  ma  faveur  et  la  plus  avanta- 
g  :u--e  [  i'ii  vous  sera  possible  ;  car  de  vostre  bonte 
an  se<\'  lespand  tous  le  bonneur  et  Tarengemant  de 
!::  .">  .!"i:rr  ;  jc  charge  mon  homme  d'afaire  d'avoyr 
rhonncur  vij  vous  presenter  ite  lestre.  Vous  ores 
la  bonS'  dc  liiy  ordnnncr  lais  pas  que  vous  treveres 
bien  que  je  fasse  auprais  de  vous  pour  la  terminesson 
de  sette  afaire  ycy  ;  donnes  luy  done,  s'il  vous  plest, 
vos  ordres  awe  ;uitems  de  bonte  que  vous  m'aves 
permis   d'esperer  que    vous   ories   pour  moy.     J'osse 


voU'=;  an 
voulo;.r  ' 
person  He 
qui    vous 


i  i  i  '_/  V    I 


I  tres-instammant,  Monsieur,  et  de 
yre  que  vous  n'an  pouves  avoyr  pour 
:  y:  plus  vesristablement  sansible  ny 
:nc  uL  lionnore  cy  parfaitemcnt   que 

L.,  duchesse  DE  PORSTMOUT. 
IV. 


TO   CHAMILLARD. 

Katiu.  .a  Archives,  G.,  7.     Original  autograph  document.* 

De  Paris,  ce  5  daoust  1702. 

rermestcz   mry,  Monsieur,  dosser  ancore  vous  de- 
i ::  :.:  unc   c^rasse  qui  est  seullement  de  me  vouloir 
:c   n'-:r:   -  ir   la  feuille  de  distribution;    vous  nan 
pe-:  J.:  pa  plus  tot  sy  vous  ne  le  voullez,  mais  si  vous 

^  This  letter,  and  the  eleven  following,  were  discovered  by 
M.  A.  de  Boislisle. 


n 


ti 


n 


\ 


LETTERS   OF  DUCHESS   OF  PORTSMOUTH.  32 j 


me  voullez  bien  faire  ce  plesir  la  je  treve  le  moicn 
de  macosmoder  avec  mais  jens  dafaire,  sy  vous  me 
donnez  ceste  marque  de  bonte.  Ne  me  la  refifuse 
pas.  Monsieur,  je  vous  an  conjure,  car  par  la  vous  me 
donerez  le  moien  de  sortir  davec  dais  arabe  qui  me 
tiranisse  de  toute  maniere.  Soufre  done,  Monsieur, 
que  je  vous  conjure  de  me  donner  ce  secours  et  de 
vouloir  bien  vous  donner  la  penne  de  me  faire  savoir 
sy  vous  orez  ceste  bonte  pour  moy.  To  natems  que 
sella  pour  partir  disy  et  finir  et  sortir  absollument 
dafaire,  sy  je  suis  asse  heureuse  pour  que  vous  veillez 
bien  me  donner  ce  secours  que  je  vous  demande 
instamment  avec  la  justisse.  Monsieur,  de  me  croyre 
la  personne  du  monde  qui  vous  estime,  ayme  et 
honore  le  plus  parfaistement. 

L.,  duchesse  DE    PORTSMOUTH. 


V. 


TO  DESMARETS. 

Letter  preserved  in  the  National  Archives,  G.,  7,  543.     Original 

autograph  document. 

De  Paris,  ce  20  mars  1708. 

Ne  pouvant  avoyr  I'honneur  de  vous  voir,  Mon- 
sieur, par  le  grand  abattement  qui  me  reste  d'une 
violente  fiesvre  et  une  etresipelle  que  je  eu  dans  la 
taite  et  sur  tout  le  visage,  je  prant  la  liberie  de  vous 


1 
4 


324 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE: 


b 

in 


X'l 


le   lie 
iceiiu\- 


■rcmeni 
poingt  et  este: 

\:    touch-.:    :;: 


lire  siis  lignes  pour  vous  suplier    devouloir  bien 
:     icsouvenir  de  la  promesse  que  vous  avez  eu  la 
te  de  !;:c  faire  aupres  de  M.  Nicolle,  qui  anagist 
ph:^   III  .:   dii   nionde  avec   moy  car,  depuis  castre 
nu  p.-  I  u>   •  rir  a  tirer   un  soult  de  luy 

.:r    iin    -ub-istance       W  a   ina  belle  tapisserie  dont 
i,  -c  -   r:  Lt    ,u  il  L;a-:  J  toute,  et  je  me  treve  pis  que  je 
n^uaio    avc^   Ti    \    ning,  car  au  moins   me  payes  til 
:  Uilic-rcmeni    lit    bu'    moy;    mais    tapisserie    ne 

t  soigneusement  conserve  ; 
i)0ur  cent,  jendonne  dix  a 
revenu  et  il  ne  me  payen 
:  de  tout  ,  eiibi  s'yl  ne  luy 
pciicst  pa^'  nil-  vous  macordye  une  forte  protection,  je 
n'en  viendere  jamais  about.  X  i  le  la  retusse  pas, 
Monsieur,  je  vous  ansupli,  et  donnez-vous  la  penne  de 
luy  parller  comme  Uiy  iTiarquant  voullant  estre  obeys. 
Josse  esperer  cet  esantiei  servisse  de  vous,  Monsieur, 
et  que  vous  serez  persuade  que  personne  dans  le 
monde  ne  vous  peut  estimer  et  honorer  sy  parfaite- 
ment  que  moy. 

L.,  duchesse  DE  PORTSMOUTH. 

Je  prie  Monsieur  de  de  ce  doner  la 

penne  de  vous  rendre  cette  lettre,  et  de  vous  dire  ce 
dont  je  le  charge  ;  soutenez-moi,  je  vous  ansuplie. 


LETTERS   OF  DUCHESS   OF  PORTSMOUTH.  325 


K 


i 


VI. 


To   DESMARETS. 

Letter  preserved  in  the  National  Archives,  G.,  7,  543.     Original 

autograph  signed  document.^ 

De  Paris,  ce  12  avril  1708, 

Ma  sante  ne  me  permettant  pas  encore  d'aller  a 
Versailles,  Monsieur,  je  vous  envoy  le  sieur  Pinson 
pour  vous  porter  un  memoyre  ;  il  vous  expliquera,  sy 
vous  voullez  bien  macorder  le  plesir  de  luy  doner  un 
mosmant  dodyance,  la  consequance  que  ce  mest  de 
macorder  la  grasse  que  je  vous  demande  ;  je  lieux  de 
me  flater  de  vos  bontes  et  desperer  de  vous  tous  lais 
secours  qui  sont  a  vostre  pouvo3/r ;  selluy  cy  est 
antiesremant,  acordelle  moy  done,  Monsieur,  je  vous 
an  conjure,  la  pronte  expedission  mest  importente,  et 
vous  le  connesterez  parce  qui!  aura  I'honneur  de  vous 
dire.  Josse  esperer  que  vous  macorderez  cette 
marque  de  I'interait  que  vous  me  foite  I'honneur  de 
prendre  an  moy  comme  a  la  personne  du  monde  qui 
sertennemant  vous  honore,  ay  me  et  estime  le  plus 
parfaitement. 

L.,  duchesse  DE  Portsmouth. 


*  Some  of  the  letters  of  Louise  de  Keroualle  in  the  National 
Archives  are  unsigned. 


326 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


LETTERS   OF  DUCHESS   OF  PORTSMOUTH.    327 


VII. 


TO   DESMARETS. 

Letter  preserved  in  the  National  Archives,   G.,  543,  Original 
document  with  the  note,  "  Par  le  sieur  de  Lonchant." 

De  Paris,  ce  9  juillet  1708. 

Comme  vous  m'avez  permis  de  center  sur  vos 
bontes,  iVionsieur,  josse  prandre  la  liberie  de  les 
inplorer  n  n  1:1  chosse  qui  vous  peuvent  estre  a 
charge,  car  sait  ce  que  je  vistere  toujours,  mais  comme 
vous  iiiivez  fait  I'honneur  de  me  dire  dans  le  cos- 
i;:c.i.:..:i:  que  vous  avez  este  controlleur  gendraP, 
que  vous  ne  trouvesriez  pas  movais  que  je  vous 
presantasse  autems  dafaire  que  on  man  donnerest  qui 
parussent  resonnable,  je  mosse  flater  que  vous  avez 
asse  de  bontes  pour  nioy  pour  aymer  autems  et 
j'espere  mieux  me  faire  du  bien  de  cette  maniere  ca 
des  personnes  indisferente ;  vous  connaisse  mais 
besoings  et  le  malheureux  estat  ou  je  suis  et  de  quelle 
consequancc  me  peut  ;,  :re  un  secour  comme  selluy 
sy  qui  nc  fait  tu:  t  a  personne  et  qui  notte  rien  dais 
coffre  du  Iv  y ;  ne  me  reffuse  done  poingt  vostre 
protection.  \  .a^  in'aviez  paru  sy  rempli  de  bonte, 
a  ci'uii  c  ct  de  bonne  vollonte  pour  moy  devent  destre 

^  Desmarets  only  became  controleur  general  in  the  month  of 
February  this  year. 


1;; 


dans  le  poste  ou  vous  este,  que  josse  me  promestre, 
Monsieur,  que  dans  dais  chosse  comme  celle-cy  vous 
me  voudrez  bien  proqurer  tous  lais  secour  a  ma 
movesse  situassion  qui  despenderont  de  vous.  Vous 
vouUez  done  bien  me  permettre  de  vous  faire  souvenir 
par  ce  memoyre,  que  je  joingt  a  ma  lettre,  des  deux 
affaires  que  jus  I'honneur  de  vous  presenter  la  surveille 
de  vostre  despart.  La  personne  qui  a  I'honneur  de 
vous  presanter  ma  lettre  est  le  sieur  de  Longchant 
qui  me  les  a  donne  et  qui  est  un  homme  fort  indus- 
trieux  dans  sait  chosse  la;  anfin,  Monsieur,  josse 
esperer  que  je  trevesre  an  vous  dans  dais  chose  qui  ne 
vous  seront  pas  plus  anbarrassante  ny  plus  disficille 
que  selle  sy,  une  vraie  protection  et  un  veristable  et 
essantielle  ami,  et  que  vous  me  fere  la  justisse  destre 
fortement  persuade  que  personne  ne  vous  aynie,  ne 
vous  estime  et  honore  sy  parfaitement  que  je  le  fais 

veritablement. 

L.,  duchesse  DE  PORTSMOUTH. 

Permettez-moi  de  vous  supller  de  vous  souvenir  de 
me  faire  mestre  sur  I'estat  de  distribussion  pour  ma 
pansion  eschue  depuis  le  commancement  de  juin. 


:t 


328 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLK. 


VIII. 


LETTERS   OF  DUCHESS   OF  PORTSMOUTH.  329 


TO   DESMARETS. 

Letter  preserved  in  the  National  Archives,  G,  7,  543.     Original 

autograph  document. 

De  Paris,  ce  iSjuillet  1708. 

J'ossc   esperer,   ?vl   r^i,ur,   que   la  grasse  que  vous 

avez  bicn  voullii   accnrdrr  \  monsieur  ]-?  marquis  de 

1  i,   \'e  an parllant  an  sieiir  Volland pour  iiiy,  ?ie  seras 

puo    retraite  rnr  vons  comme  nwjisieur  le  viarqnis  de 

Vailance  ce  le  promest  et  quil  la  fait  €7itandre  an  sieur 

Valiant  an  luy  demandant  six  on  sept  jour  pour  an- 

ployer  sait  sollicitassion  auprais  de  vous.  Jc  ine  flatte, 

Monsieur,  quelle  noront  nulle  lieux  et  que  vous  orez 

la  bonte  de  noii-  cuntiniiLr  vostre  protection,  monsieur 

I  i^  *\  c   aiant  toute  lais  suretes  a  donncr  au  <a'!r 

Nc    nic  r  fusez  done  poingt  ceste  marque 

et    c'c   cai:^ahjra:     n    que   josse    vous   dire, 

que  ji  a  criste  pas  lais  santimants  d  amities 

c  '.dc  je  pour  \'iaa>  vLaainc  pvuir  un  des  plus 

la"  laaaj  da  iiiondc  et  qui  a  \q  plii?  dc  mcritc 


dt 


\"'jlland 


A  T 


'^  i-      ^-  ^.- 


C 


..e 


\  > 


sin  i. 


V; 


adi        a  adtement. 

L.,  duchesse  DE  PORTSMOUTH. 


anxore,     Monsieur,     d'osser    vous 

ad  aa        a\t  lur  de  moy  pour  ma 
:aa-      cpuis  ie  cosmancemcnt   i 


\  ■(' 


II 


IX. 


TO   DESMARETS. 
National  Archives,  G,  7,  543.     Original  autograph  document. 

De  Paris,  ce  8  daoust  1708. 
La  maniesre  obligente  avec  laquelle  vous  me  fiste 
la  grasse,  Monsieur,  dantrer  dans  mes  interais  quant 
jus  I'honneur  de  vous  parller  de  ceste  grande  afaire 
des  billiey  de  monoye  manhardy  de  vous  importuner 
de  sais  ligne-sy,  pour  vous  renresenter  quelle  doyt 
parestre  a  un  homme  aussy  esclere  que  vous,  sy 
aventajeuse  pour  le  servisse  du  Roy  quelle  meriste 
que  voas  y  donniez  toute  vostre  atantion,  afin  de  la 
conclure  insesemmant  et  qaa  ceux  ud  I'entreprennent 
puisse  travailler  a  s'arenger  la  dessu.  ^\iii:3y  j'espere, 
Monsieur,  que  v.~  i~  Icar  mandcrcz  insesamment  de 
vous  aller  trever  .,  1  onteneblaux.  Monsieur  Nicollas 
aaa:  i  entretenue  a  fond  et  iaa-  aa  ;; 
ment,  je  treve  qui  ^.i  possede  -y  Lia 
neat  manquer  vie  dur  part  a  i  a^  a 
paru  qud  a  fdit  dc  seriease  reflcCMMa 
evencrncns  et  quil  ne  arcaiii^  aa..|aa  inconvenient  pour 
vous  iiy  pour  cux.  ju  iic  vuyc  an  luy  qu'un  tres 
grand  selle  pour  vostre  service  ct  unc  franchise  qui 
lobligerest  d'adi::d  ;  na  haaiin.  >\  i  nn-trt  persuade 
cue   vous   V  orez    de   aranii:-    d\Lni:i^QS    et    baucoup 


aix  de  iu'^e- 
que  rien  i;e 
)n.  II  in'a 
ar   lous   lais 


330 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


donneur  dedans  et  dehor  du  royaume,  et  cy  je  nestais 
pas  persuade    ]e  nc  prnndrais    pas,   Monsieur,   cette 
libcrte.     S  r:   ni-cii    ::t   personne  ne  s'interessant  plus 
viven.   :;r    a;i. n:,   que   moy,   sait  ce  qin    :he   poite  a 
vous  marqucr  qii'!  ftu  ':  i  que  vous  mandiez  monsieur 
Nicolla  et    ;ii  associe  et  puis  retenir  Nicolla  tout  seul 
pour  vous  ii;  t;uyre  a   fon  et  vous  mestre  en  estat 
tuutc  lafaire  pour  ia  conclure ;  je  de  nouvaux  de  luy 
^a  parole  quil  fera  pour  moy  tout  au  monde  ce  que 
vous    voudrez.     ^Ta*-.   ne   croyez  pas  s'il  vous    plest, 
Monsieur,   que  s\    jc  nanvissajest  pas   la  chose   glo- 
rieusse  et  utille  pour  vous,  que  I'interais  que  il  peux 
avoyr  me  fit  vous  representer  la  chose  sy  vivement, 
ne  trevez  done  poingt   movais,   Monsieur,  la  liberte 
que  je  prand  et  <^nyez  persuade  de  mon  atachement 
et   uc   ma   saingsere  amitie   pour  vous,  personne  ne 
pouvant  vous  considerer  avec  une  plusparfaite  estime 
et  vous  honorer  n^  !^  infisnisment  que  je  le  fais. 

L.,  duchesse  DE  PORTSMOUTH. 


Irevez  bon  que  je  vous  supli  aussy  de  vous  resou- 
ven'r  de  ma  pansion  et  d  ordonner  que  je  soye  pave. 


LETTERS   OF  DUCHESS   OF  PORTSMOUTH.  \\\ 


o:> 


X. 


TO   DESMARETS. 


National  Archives,  G,  7,  543.     Onginal  autograph  document. 


De  Paris,  ce  14  aoust  1708. 

Je  resoy,  Monsieur,  dans  le  mosmant  la  lettre  que 
vous  m'avez  fait  I'honneur  de  mescrire;  je  charge  mon- 
sieur Niscolla  davoyr  Ihonneur  de  vous  rendre  selle 
ycy,  qui  san  retourne  a  Fontenneblaux  pour  attendre 
vos  hordre  contems  et  croyant  estre  sur  et  an  estat  de 
lever  toute  lais  difficultes  que  vous  pouvez  trevez  dans 
stafaire,  sy  vous  voullez  bien  luy  faire  la  grasse  de  luy 
an  parler.  Ne  refusez  pas  je  vous  pris  la  liberte  que 
j'osse  prandre  dantrer  dans  stafaire  comme  presumant 
de  vous  exsiter  et  persuader  contre  vostre  propre 
jugement  ct  vos  grandes  lumieres  ny  maime  par  un 
esprit  davisdiste  et  d'interais  desresonnable,  car  je  ne 
la  souette  quantems  quelle  vous  pouras  e^tre  agreable 
et  utille.  An  ce  cas  la  jeanresantire  un  sansible  plaisir 
puisque  vous  pourez  estre  mon  bien  faiteur  sans  qu'il 
vous  an  coute  rien  dauqune  maniere  que  quelque 
parolle.  Ainsy  quant  josse  vous  suplier  de  voulloir 
aprofondir  la  chosse  avec  le  sieur  Xk  /li.i-,  se  nest  que 
pour  que  vous  an  ayez  nn  parfait  c^^clrrcissement  et 
lesprit  satisfait  ladessus  pour  vous  destunii:  r  comme 
vous  le  jugerez  le  plus  apropos.  11  sere^t  reste  pour 
atamdre  vos  hordres  ct   vostre  tems  sans  quil   avest 


332 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


ysy  eune  .i  lai.e  de  consequance.  Aujourdhuy  je 
vous  suis  infiniment  oblige,  Monsieur,  de  la  bonte  que 
vous  me  faite  esperer  que  vous  hordonnerez  le  paye- 
n: cnt  de  ma  pansion  ,  soyez  persuade,  je  vous  suplie, 
de  mon  parfait  atachement  pour  vous  et  que  personne 
ne  se  peut  interesser  avec  plus  d'amitie  a  tousse  qui 
vous  regarde.  113/  vnus  estimer  et  honnorer  plus  par- 
f  .'tement  que  1:1  > . 

L.,  duchesse  de  PortSxMOUTH. 


XI. 


TO   DESMARETS. 

National  Archives,  G,  7,  543.     Original  autograph  document. 

De  Paris,  ce  16  octobre  1708. 
j     viens  d'apr  i- jic,  TJ^iisieur,  que  quelque  hun  de 
messieurs   Ics   inrendant   de    fisnance  avest  antrepris 
doptenir  dc  \    u-i  pour  un  ostre  compaigny  que  celle 
^-  in -:  -  e  ;r   v'ollani     t  sais  assossies  dont  vous  tre- 
vesrcz  les  noms  sy  joings,  lafaire  de  latribustion  de  la 
noblesse.     Josse  esperer,  Monsieur,  que  vous  n'avez 
P  *^"  ^'  ^  '  -^"   i  -■  :-  v\jus  ;  I  proposse  sainc  ou  six  jours 
4 '^^   i^c  V  ai^  Id >tc  nome  controlleur  general  et  que 
\'  LH  iiic  ii-tc  1  hoiiii   in    dc  m'assurer  que  vous  ne  la 
!  rxz  q-ic  pniir  m  ,1  et  vous  la  renvoyatte  a  monsieur 
Couturier  que  vous  an  avez  charge  pour  vous  an  faire 
^'  -v.nii.     ^a■:  11!  b?en  que  vous  me  ferez,  Monsieur, 


LETTERS   OF  DUCHESS  OF  PORTSMOUTH.  ZH 


et  dont  je  mosse  flater  que  vous  aymerez  mieux  que  je 
profitte  que  quelques  amis  de  messieurs  lais  intendant 
de  fi'^nince.  Comme  vous  mavez  fait  la  grasse  de  me 
donner  vostre  paroUe,  je  suis  persuade  que  vous  orez 
la  bonte  de  me  la  tenir  et  de  voulloyr  preferer  la 
compaigny  du  sieur  Vollant  a  tout  offre  et  de  leur 
pcrniettre  de  vous  faire  leur  soumission.  Lextresme 
craincte.  Monsieur,  de  vous  importuner  a  fait  que  je 
ne  pas  osse  trop  souvent  vous  an  parller  pour  vous  an 
rafrechir  la  memoyre  non  plus  que  de  I'afaire  de  la 
banque,  mourant  toujours  de  peur  de  vous  estre  trop 
incosmode ;  cependant,  Monsieur,  se  sont  dais  plesir 
et  dais  grasse  quil  faut  que  vous  fassiez  a  quelquun  ; 
vous  savez  la  cruelle  situation  de  mais  afaire,  par  sais 
deux  que  je  eu  I'honneur  de  vous  proposer  vous  me 
proqurez  un  repaux  esternel  et  vous  devennez  serten- 
nemant  mon  bienfaiteur  et  hor  destat  de  vous  devoyr 
a  la  venir  trop  importuner.  Accordez  moy  done, 
Monsieur,  sais  deux  grasse  et  ansella  unc  marque  de 
vos  bontes  et  de  vostre  amitie  et  de  vouloyr  bien  me 
faire  savoir  le  tems  a  pen  prais  que  vous  trevesrez  a 
propos  de  les  fisnir  pour  que  je  prenne  lais  mesure 
necessaire  pour  la  surette  de  ce  que  les  uns  et  les 
ostres  mont  ofert  tant  pour  la  faire  de  la  bannue  que 
pour  selle  de  la  noblesse;  jc  11  i  nr^  ^ui  vostre  des- 
sision  pour  manaller  a  nui  caiiipaigne,  mettent  de 
consequance  dc  ne  n^inc^t  aiiitcr  oul'  ic  na\'  cii  niais 
suretes  pour  proficter  du  bien  et  de  lavantage  que 
josse  esperer  que  vous   voudrez  bien  me  faire  et  me 


334 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


proqurer  dont  je  vous  orez  une  esternelle  obligassion, 
car,  .Uonsieur,  sertennement  vous  ne  ferez  jamais  de 
plesir  ny  dc  bien  a  personne  qui  lais  ressante  avec 
une  plus  parfaitte  reconnessance  ny  qui  vous  estime, 
ayme  vesristablement,  Monsieur,  et  honore  plus  par- 
faitement  que  moy. 

L.,  duchesse  de  Portsmouth. 

Thefolloiving  is  the  list  mentioned  in  the  letter  : 

Monseigneur  aura  la  bonte  de  se  souvenir  de  la 
proposition  de  I'attribution  de  noblesse  aux  commis- 
saires  ordinaire  des  guerres,  a  ceux  de  la  marine, 
galleres  et  artillerie  dont  Sa  Grandeur  a  charge  U. 
Le  Cousturier  pour  la  travailler  avec  les  proposant 
qui  sont :  Rollan  \  Lantage,  Accault,  Caquet,  Vollant, 
Moi-mtrque.  1 )  ib.c,  Vannelle,  M^rite,  La  Bussiere! 
^^^''^"'       -.  inKjCit  Nicolas,  Lacombe,  Le  Vasseur. 


XII. 


TO   DESMARETS. 


National  Archives,  G,  7,  543-     Original  autograph  docum 


ent. 


De  Paris,  ce  25  Janvier  1709. 

La  bonte  que  vous  avez  eu.  Monsieur,  de  me  pro- 

mestre  quan  fessant  Yafaire  cojisernant  la  noblesse  dais 

8   cosmissere  vous  agreriez  la   compaignie  que  jorais 

riwnjieur  de  vous  presanter,  dont  le  sieur  Volland  est 


LETTERS   OF  DUCHESS   OF  PORTSMOUTH.  335 

a  la  taite  et  qui  a  este  travaille  par  le  sieur  dc  la 
Combe,  me  fait  esperer.  Monsieur,  que  vous  voudrez 
bien  vous  an  souvenir,  ce  qui  fait  que  je  prand  la 
liberte  de  vous  inportuner  de  sais  ligne  sait  que  je 
me  suis  lesse  dire  que  monsieur  Poultier  voullest  vous 
an  parler  pour  loptenir  pour  un  otre  compaigny ; 
mais  je  tems  de  foy  an  vous,  cas  moings  que  ce  ne 
soyt  pas  un  oubli,  je  mosse  asse  flater  de  vostre 
amitie,  pour  me  persuader  que  vous  voudrez  bien 
man  continuer  lais  marque  et  ne  rien  changer  asse 
que  vous  mavez  faist  I'honneur  de  me  promettre. 
Je  vous  ansuplie  tres  instammcnt  ct  vous  demande 
la  justisse.  Monsieur,  de  croyre  que  personne  ne  pent 
avoyr  plus  de  recosnessence  et  de  sansibillite  de  vos 
bontes  ny  ne  vous  peut  estimer,  considerer  et  honorer 
plus  parfaitement  que 

L.,  duchesse  DE  PORTSMOUTH. 


Je  vous  envoye  si  joingt.  Monsieur,  les  noms  de  ce 
qui  compose  la  compaigny :  Rolland,  Lantage,  Acco, 
Oiseau,  Vanelle,  Le  Vasseur,  Caquet. 


33^ 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


XIII. 


TO  DESMARETS. 


National  Archives,  G,  7,  543.     Original  autograph  letter. 

De  Paris,  ce  24  juillet  1709. 

L'estat  ou  je  me  treve,  Monsieur,  me  forsse  a 
prandre  la  liberte  de  vous  importuner  de  sais  lignes 
pour  vous  demander  an  grasse  tres  instenmant  de 
vouloyr  bien  mordonner  le  payement  de  ma  pansion. 
Si  vous  trevez  la  disfisqulte  de  me  faire  donner 
quelque  espesse  c|ui  me  ferest  pour  tems  fort  grand 
plesir,  au  iiioings  accordez-moy  la  marque  de  pro- 
tection et  d'amitie  de  lordonner  an  billais  de  monoye. 
Ne  me  refusse  pas,  Monsieur,  je  vous  suplis,  ce 
secour  essentiel ;  je  natems  que  ceste  marque  de 
vostre  considerassion  et  damitie  pour  partir  pour  la 
province,  j  3sse,  Monsieur,  me  flater  que  vostre  bon 
coeur  et  vostre  pitie  pour  moy  vous  portera  a  ma- 
corder  mon  instente  priesre  comme  a  la  personne  du 
monde  qui  y  sera  la  plus  sansible  et  quy  vous  ayme, 
estime  et  honore,  Monsieur,  plus  parfaitement  que  je 
lie  ^J  puis  exprimer. 

L.,  duchesse  DE  Portsmouth. 


Oseres   je    esp^rer  un   mot   de  reponse   de   vous  ? 
Quelle  soyt  je  vous  conjure  favorable. 


LETTERS  OF  DUCHESS  OF  PORTSMOUTH,  337 


XIV. 


to   DESMARETS. 


National  Archives,  G,  7,  543.     Original  autograph  document. 
Noted  with  these  words  :  A.  M,  de  Vaiiboiirg. 

Daubigny,  ce  $  octobre  1709. 

Je  ne  sais,  Monsieur,  sy  vous  avez  la  bonte  de 
remarquer  par  mon  sillance  la  craingte  que  je  et  que 
je  vous  ay  toujour  marquer  de  vous  estre  importune. 
Tems  que  je  pus,  je  suyvis  ansella  mon  goust  et  la 
veiitable  consideration  que  je  pour  vous;  mais  an 
veriste,  Monsieur,  je  me  treve  dans  un  sy  rigoureux 
estat,  que  je  me  treve  force  d'implorer  vostre  secours 
et  vostre  amitie.  Jestay  venue  isy  contems  dy  trever 
quelque  douseur  et  quelque  essance ;  mais  la  misere 
y  est  sy  afreuse  que  Ton  ne  sorest  tirer  un  soult  car 
lor=  a  pas  seullement  de  coy  acbrtcr  dii  graing  pour 
semer,  et  sy  vous  navez  pitie  de  moy,  mais  taire  ne 
seront  pas  ancemance,  car,  sy  je  ne  iais  fait  pas  faire 
moy  maime,  lay  fermier  sont  hors  d'estat  et  cassy 
tous  a  la  mandiscite ;  trevez  done  bon.  Monsieur,  que 
je  vniis  supli  instamment  de  me  donner  une  marque 
de  distingtion  et  de  bonte  partiquliiesre,  an  me  fessant 
hordonner  le  payeumant  de  ma  pansion,  ce  seras  une 
obligassion  esternelle  que  je  vous  orez.  car  je  suis  o 
non  plus.  Ne  me  refusse  pas.  Monsieur,  je  vous  an 
suplie,  et  laisse  vous  toucher  aux  besoings  d'une  amie 

z 


338 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE, 


qui  vou-  h  i.^ic  autems  que  je  fais.  Trevez  ancore 
bon,  Monsieur,  de  resevoyr  un  plasset  de  ma  part 
qun  hommc  a  inoy  ora  I'honneur  de  vous  presanter 
sur  le  sujest  de  mais  boys.  Ce  plaset  vous  instruyra ; 
ayez,  syi  vous  piest,  atantion.  Que  je  treve  done, 
Monsieur,  eii  vous,  u:i  essentiel  ami  dans  mes  vrais 
besoings,  josse  me  le  promestre  et  man  flater  et  que 
vous  serez  bien  persuade  que  personne  ne  pent  estre 
a\  cc  ur.j  plus  parfaite  estime,  Monsieur,  vostre  tres 
umble  ct  tics  obeissante  servante  que  je  la  suis. 

L.,  duchcsse  DE  PORTSMOUTH. 


XV. 


TO   DESMARETS. 


National  Archives,  G,  7,  543.     Original  autograph  document. 


T',,^    I'll nnn 

qu'il  vols   p'u 

III'    ill       l,i  Li'-.  iV^         i 

cheniic  lIaI;-  \ 
a  lu^,  I■)^-i^  hau 

sell    cui    :ui    1 


ciix- 


Daubigni,  ce  27  novembre,  1709. 

r.  \\.  \  n  deux  niois,  de  vous  faire  pre- 
.;  i-sct,  -Monsieur,  par  lequel  je  demandais 
)[ut    if  i   niicr  que  lais  vente  dais  boys  de 

iiaiibigny  fussent  remise  a  I'annee  pro- 

>  lc>;)crcince  que  j'avais  quelle  serest  porte 

1  u't  :k;^  que  stannee,  et  nayant  noincrt  este 

c  la  1--   it.  Ion  a  exequste  laroit  du  con- 

h  iv!  iniaii  ici  vente.  Lay  boys  furent 
sainc  tin  ^rc-cnt  moy  pour  la  somtne  de 
nt  i.rc-,  it  inestent  par  moy  111  ia^  tait 
1  nai  -^a      rte   qu'ils  estet  porte  a  leur  juste 


LETTERS   OF  DUCHESS   OF  PORTSMOUTH,  339 

valleur  terns  par  raport  a  leur  caslite  ca  leur  situas- 
sion,  estant  esloingne  de  neuf  lieux  dais  riviere. 
Cependant  comme  monsieur  Thiton  grand  mestre  ma 
fait  voyr  lordre  que  vous  luy  avez  envoye  le  quinsse 
novambre  pour  la  remise  de  I'adjudication,  josse  vous 
suplier  de  vouloyr  bien  luy  ordonner  quil  nanpesche 
poingt  I'adjudicataire  de  jouir  puisque  sait  une  chose 
conforme  et  que  le  retar  me  serest  tres  prejudissiable  ; 
josse  ancosre.  Monsieur,  vous  conjurer  davoir  pitie  de 
ma  triste  situassion  qui  est  plus  rigoureuse  que  vous 
ne  pouvez  vous  I'imaginer.  Je  suis  tres  persuade  que 
le  Roy  qui  nignore  pas  depuis  fort  longtems  mon 
malheureux  estat,  que  si  vous  aviez  la  bonte  de  le 
luy  ancosre  represanter  an  bon  et  veritable  amie,  que 
ny  luy,  ny  vous,  ne  pouvez  pas  trever  auqun  desren- 
gemant  pour  dix  mille  franc  de  plus  ou  de  moings 
dans  lais  afaire.  Dautant  que  sait  la  senile  grasse  et 
le  seul  bienfait  dont  il  mest  jamais  honore  et  mayant 
fait  I'honneur  de  masurer  quant  je  pris  la  liberte  de 
luy  andemander  dautre  qu'il  ne  le  pouvest  pas,  mais 
qu'il  me  ferest  payer  regulliesrement  et  preferable- 
ment.  Onon  de  dieu.  Monsieur,  veillez  antrer  avec 
un  coeur  umaing  et  tandre  dans  mon  rigoureux  be- 
soing.  Josse  esperer  ceste  marque  de  vostre  amiti6 
et  de  vostre  bonte  comme  la  justisse,  Monsieur,  destre 
persuade  que  de  toute  lais  personne  qui  ont  toujour 
fait  profession  destre  de  vos  amis  li  n>  en  a  auqune 
qui  vous  aime  et  honore  aussy  parfaitement  que  moy. 

L.,  duchesse  DE  PORTSMOUTH. 


340 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


TO    DL-M,\;.J.TS. 

Letter    pre:.erved  in  the  British  Museum,  Ms.  Add^'   18675, 

V   ']'■,.     Oric^inal  autocrraph  document. 


De  Paris,  ce  22  septembre  1711. 

-  avies  eu  la  bonte,  Moniseur,    le  m'as- 

-  d    niieries  ordrr  dc    lu    faire  resevoyr 
I   :i  dont  ie  Roy  in  onore,  je  este 


.4  ;   V*  i         i.  i   ^  •  '••-- 


'■■.X 


n: 


i     j;  )ing  et  chez  M.  de  Tur- 


i  onne 


mi! 


1    i.   i     ^     •^.  i  •-_ 


'    I  '  >■■ 


i    1  ,-» 


:    n  n:  le  doute  poingt  que 

vous  m'avez  fiiit  !  i  crrassede 

I  <•  ;, -t  que  CO!:  ::  J  vous  aves  I'esprit  auqupe 
J  tre--iin;i  itciite  vous  pouves  avoyr  oiiblie  de 
1  ii:  y,  tri\  cs  bon  ste  lestre  pour  vous  w:.  faire 
souvenir  ct  [i^.a  vous  suplicr  .  t  ;;  ua  it  de  vouloyr 
bien  anvnycr  v  -  linrdrc  possitive  pour  que  je  puisse 
profistcr  de  \-o^'re  ;/romesse,  an  ayant,  ]■:.  v^ai-  a-;-^ure, 
dl  1!  :j  ii.  11  dcssoinfjs  infisnis.  A\^6s  done  cette 
h   ntc    i     ui     la   y.    je    vous    an    conjure    instanmant, 

rdtr    di  justisse   d'estre  bien   per- 
:u       cr^onne  ne  vous  estime,  con- 
a  us  parfaitement  que  moy. 

L.,  duchesse  DE  PORTSMOUT. 


t    !    1 


'^'lade 


LETTERS  OF  DUCHESS   OF  PORTSMOUT//.  341 


Treves  bon,  Monsieur,  que  dans  cette  mesme  lestre 
j'ose  vous  suplier,  sy  sella  ne  vous  ayt  pas  desagre- 
able,  de  vouloyr  bien  an  ma  recosmandassion  accorder 

an  ^icur  de  ^longela.  fils  enne  dii  '^iciir  Grimaiix.  iin 


tu. 


fermiers  generaux,  une  souferme  dai 


n  '--'.Q,  soyt 

uaii>  .t"  i,:'aaa}b  uu  dc  Chaslon  an  d  JM'iaaiaaie  ou 
dan^  ie  i>ourbonnay.  Se  sont  dais  jens  nd  s  solvable 
et  qui  peyront  bien,  et  qui  sont  pci  uades  que  vous 
m'onores  d'un  peux  de  Ijoniu  ct  d'amitie.  et  qui  ont 
crus  que  vous  leur  acorderies  par  raport  a  moy  plus 
tot  cette  faveur  la  que  par  d'autre  voye.  Comme  je 
leiir^  ay  obligassion,  je  ne  pas  refusse  de  vous  an  faire 
!  I  iiesumble  priesre;  ne  le  treves  pas  movais,  je  vous 
ari  -upiib.  Monsieur.  Et  permestes  moy  de  vous  de- 
mand er  an  grasse  un  most  de  reponce,  et  s'yi  ce  peut 
qu'elle  me  soyt  favorable  an  tout. 


XVII. 


TO   DESMARETS. 


National  Archives,  G,  7,  543-     Original  autograph  document* 

De  Paris,  ce  2  fevrier  17 13. 

Je  suis  bien  mortifie,  Monsieur,  de  me  trever 
oblige  par  la  cruelle  situation  de  mais  affaire  et  mon 
malheureux  estat  de  vous  inportuner  sy  souvant  pour 

1  This  letter  and  the  following  one  were  discovered  by  M.  de 
Boislisle. 


343 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


w 


pa: 

dus. 

mc: 


;  :rer  davovr  la  bonte  de  me  faire  au  moing 
I.:;  J  annce  de  pansion  sur  selle  qui  me  sont 
.Xccordez  moy  done,  Monsieur,  sette  marque 
;;t(  it  d'amitie  de  vouloyr  bien  antrer  dans 
:  xtresme  besoing  et  de  me  faire  mcstre  sur 
re^ta:  d:  distribution  de  dimanche  et  avec  un  ordre 
posit  if  :  estre  paye  et  sanrien  qui  ne  me  fasse  pas 
languir.  An  veriste,  Monsieur,  ma  consideration 
pour  \'ous  ct  moil  atachement  a  vous  honorer  depuis 
Ic  moment  que  je  eu  I'honneur  de  vous  cosnestre, 
moi)  tioo-i*.  un  peux  de  protection  et  de  secours  dun 
ceiir  aii-~y  bien  fait  et  aussy  juste  que  le  vostre ;  ne 
me  refusse  done  pas,  Monsieur,  la  grasse  et  la  justisse 
que  je  vous  demande  instammant,  non  plus  que  la 
justice  destre  tres  fortement  persuade  que  vous  ne 
lacorderez  a  personne  qui  vous  souette  plus  de  bon- 
limir,  qui  vo--^  lionore  plus  parfaitement,  ny  qui  soyt 
plus  vesristablement,  Monsieur,  vostre  tres  umble  et 
tres  obeissante  servente  que  moy. 

L ,  duchesse  DE  PORTSMOUTH. 


LETTERS   OF  DUCHESS   OF  PORTSMOUTH.  343 


XVIII. 


TO   DESMARETS. 


National  Archives,  G,  7,  543.     Original  autograph  document. 

De  Paris,  ce  9  mars  17 13. 

Je  resge  toujours,  Monsieur,  asse  malheureuse  pour 
Que  vous  ne  veillez  jamais  antrer  avec  un  peux  de 
bont^  et  dumaniste  dans  ma  cruelle  sytuassion  et 
dans  mais  extresme  besoings.  Je  vous  avourez, 
Monsieur,  que  la  sirconstance  ou  je  me  treve  me 
mest  au  desespoyr,  et  se  qui  maflige  an  caure  le  plus 
griesvement,  sait  de  cecasprais  mestre  osse  flater  d'un 
peux  de  part  dans  I'honneur  de  vostre  amitie  je  la 
doulleur  de  nan  pas  resevoyr  la  moindre  petite 
marque  ny  de  ne  vous  trever  jamais  disposse  a  entrer 
dans  aucune  considerassion  pour  moy  ny  de  sou^ager 
mon  malheureux  estat  et  mais  extresme  bessoine. 
mestent  dus  troys  ann^es  de  la  pension  dont  le  Roy 
ma  honore.  An  veriste.  Monsieur,  par  lestime  et  la 
consideration  que  je  toujour  eu  pour  \ous  depuis 
que  je  I'avantage  de  vous  cosnestre,  je  mestais  cru 
androyt  desperer  une  marque  de  vos  bontes  et  de 
vostre  justice.  Je  vous  la  demande.  Monsieur,  avec 
toute  lais  instance  qun  tres  presant  besoing  le  peut 
exsiger  et  que  vous  veilliez  bien  au  moings  mor- 
donner  une  annee.     Vous  me  laviez   fait  esperer  de- 


ii 


344 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


vant  le  voyage  de  Fonteneblaux  :  ne  me  refusse  pas, 
■*^  ^-:  --1,  y-  vous  ansuplie,  et  veillez  vous  souvenir 
que  je  sui-  line  dais  personne  du  monde  qui  ayt  tou- 
jour plus  pris  de  part  a  vos  avantages  que  qui  que 
se  soyt.  Ainsi,  Monsieur,  par  umanite,  sy  je  ne  le 
puis  optenir  de  vostre  amitie,  compastisse  a  ma  triste 
conjoncture  an  ma  cordant  la  grasse  que  je  vous 
demande  \"y  et  la  justisse  an  maime  tems  de  me 
croyre  avec  toute  la  consideration  possyble  vostre 
tres  umble  et  tres  obeissante  servente. 

L.,  duchesse  DE  PORTSMOUTH. 


XIX. 

TO  THE  CONTROLEUR  GENERAL  OF  FINANCE.^ 

Signed  letter  ;  collection  of  M.  de  Barberey.   • 

A  Aubigny,  le  lo  decembre  1731, 
i  Liiii-ttez-moi,  Monsieur,  de  vous  prier  cette 
annee,  comme  j'ay  fait  I'annee  derniere,  de  m'estre 
favorable  aupres  de  M:  le  Cardinal  dans  la  demande 
que  je  luy  fait  de  la  grattiffication  annuelle  qu'il  m'a 
jusqu  a  present  fait  accorder  par  Sa  Majeste,  et  dune 
petite  augmentation,  si  cela  est  possible.  Vous  trou- 
vcrcz  cv-joint,  Monsieur,  la  copie  du  memoire  que 
j 'a>   :\     presenter  a  M.  le  Cardinal  ;  comme  il   vous 

^  Philibert  Orry  was  contioleur  general  from  March  1730  to 
December  1745. 


LETTERS   OF  DUCHESS  OF  PORTSMOUTH.    345 

sera  apparemment  renvoye,  je  vous  prie  de  voulloir 
bien  I'appuyer  de  votre  credit  aupres  de  Son  Emi- 
nence, et  de  I'engager  a  m'accorder  ma  demande. 
Je  me  flatte  par  I'amitie  que  vous  m'avez  temoignee 
que  vous  voudrez  bien  me  rendre  service  en  cette 
occasion,  et  que  vous  etes  bien  persuade  de  I'estime 
et  de  la  consideration  avec  laquelle  je  suis,  Monsieur, 
votre  tres-humble  et  tres-obeissante  servante. 

L.,  duchesse  DE  PORTSMOUTH. 

On  the  margin  is  written  in  a  handwriting  re- 
sembling Orry's:  "Bon  pour  5,000.  Repondre  en 
conformite  a  madame  de  Portsmouth."  The  copy 
of  the  following  memorial  and  of  the  petition  to  the 
King  are  appended  to  Letter  XIX. : 


To  Monseigneur  the  Cardinal  de  Fleury. 

MONSEIGNEUR, 

Vous  avez  eu  la  bonte  de  faire  donner  a  la 
duchesse  de  Portsmouth  en  I'annee  1726  une  ordon- 
nance  de  grattiffication  extraordinaire  de  dix  mil 
livres  ;  en  1727  une  de  six  mil  livres,  et  les  annees 
suivantes  cinq  mil  livres  seulement.  Et  cela  en 
consideration  des  services  importants  qu'elle  a  rendus 
autrefois  a  I'Etat  et  a  cause  de  la  perte  qu'elle  a 
fait  de  presque  tout  son  bien  dans  le  papier  ;  la 
reduction  qu'elle  a  souffert  sur  quelques  rentes 
viageres    qu'elle    avoit,  et   dont  jusqu'a  present  elle 

A  A 


346 


LOUISE  DE  KEROUALLE. 


11  .   !  11  ubtenir  le  retablissemcnt,  ayant  encore  rendu 

>  i  -ill  a:;   ii  plus  facheuse. 

i.  ^-:  -i::;)  ;  t  rc^-humblement  Votre  Eminence  de 
voulluir  hu!;  iu)'  a^-^^r  :cr  pour  li  iM^^cnte  annee 
1731  i::;e  ordo::!:  ii:lj  de  cette  grattiffication  un  \-.i\\ 
plus  forte  que  celle  de  I'annee  precedente  et  la  nro- 
i^Oii:  !i;u:r  t  -c-  besoins  et  a  son  age  de  plus  de 
quai:e-\  ;:;^:-aeuX  ans. 


Note  subjoined  : 

^•lad  j;i^  !a  (ii.J.esse  de  ['_'rt^inouth 
:5upplic  S  L  M  ijeste  de  lui  continuer  la  meme  grace 
quelle  a   i a    b-  :Ue  de   lay   accorder  depuis  plusieurs 
'^-0'  ^^^i-^^::t  a-Min-r   \:,xxQ^  gratificati:  ^ii   pour 
amce.      i.a  reduction  qu'elle  a  soufferte 
;^    i  .nt  js   viageres    qu'elle    avoii,  d   dont 
ai:  aeaauu'c  le  retablissemcnt,  ayant  rendu 
1     lu:   re  plus  tacheuse. 
3a  Majc  iv  i:\\-  a  accorde : 

i-'^  ^"26 10,000  liv. 

J'-  ^7-7 6,000  — 

^-:-   ^7-^        7-9  et  1730     .     .      5,000  — 


Liaa^- 


FINIS. 


Bi.'*iCr  ck;    i.ini  -it,    1  lie  tc.wooj  t'ri;:t;r.' 


a'  Works,  Frome,  and  Loiulr^ 


